AIM: To investigate the relationship between restraint usage and injury outcome in child motor vehicle occupants aged 2-8 years. METHODS: Retrospective case review of all child occupants presenting at the Children's Hospital at Westmead between July 2002 and January 2005 subsequent to a motor vehicle crash. Injury severity was assessed in terms of the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), by age and type of restraint. RESULTS: Data were collected for 152 child occupants aged 2 and 8 years. While nearly all children (94%) used some restraint, most (82%) used a suboptimal form of restraint. Injury severity between optimally restrained children and suboptimally restrained children differed significantly (Fisher's exact test, P<0.001), with suboptimally restrained children receiving a greater proportion of moderate to severe (AIS 2+) injuries. No optimally restrained child sustained an AIS 2+ injury. CONCLUSION: A total of 82% of child occupants aged 2-8 years involved in crashes were suboptimally restrained. All children who sustained serious injuries were suboptimally restrained. There is a need to encourage correct use of the most appropriate restraint for child motor vehicle occupants in order to reduce the number and severity of injuries in these road users.
AIM: To investigate the relationship between restraint usage and injury outcome in child motor vehicle occupants aged 2-8 years. METHODS: Retrospective case review of all child occupants presenting at the Children's Hospital at Westmead between July 2002 and January 2005 subsequent to a motor vehicle crash. Injury severity was assessed in terms of the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), by age and type of restraint. RESULTS: Data were collected for 152 child occupants aged 2 and 8 years. While nearly all children (94%) used some restraint, most (82%) used a suboptimal form of restraint. Injury severity between optimally restrained children and suboptimally restrained children differed significantly (Fisher's exact test, P<0.001), with suboptimally restrained children receiving a greater proportion of moderate to severe (AIS 2+) injuries. No optimally restrained child sustained an AIS 2+ injury. CONCLUSION: A total of 82% of child occupants aged 2-8 years involved in crashes were suboptimally restrained. All children who sustained serious injuries were suboptimally restrained. There is a need to encourage correct use of the most appropriate restraint for child motor vehicle occupants in order to reduce the number and severity of injuries in these road users.
Authors: Kate Hunter; Lisa Keay; Judy M Simpson; Julie Brown; Lynne E Bilston; Maureen Fegan; Louise Cosgrove; Mark Stevenson; Rebecca Q Ivers Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2015-01-20 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Rebecca Q Ivers; Lisa Keay; Julie Brown; Lynne E Bilston; Kate Hunter; Judy M Simpson; Mark Stevenson Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2011-01-06 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Anvay Parab; Tom Whyte; Bianca Albanese; Lynne Bilston; Sjaan Koppel; Judith L Charlton; Jake Olivier; Lisa Keay; Julie Brown Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-01-28 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Lisa Keay; Kate Hunter; Martyn Ralph; Bobby Porykali; Marilyn Lyford; Kathleen Clapham; Winston Lo; Rebecca Ivers Journal: Pilot Feasibility Stud Date: 2018-10-20