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Rear-Facing Car Seats Save Lives
12/10/2007
Indianapolis - Groundbreaking research can improve the safety of young children in vehicles. According to an article published in the December issue of Injury Prevention, during the second year of life children are five times less likely to die or sustain serious injuries when they ride in rear-facing car seats compared to forward-facing car seats. This research applies to all types of crashes including side impact which are typically the most severe.
Dr. Marilyn Bull, medical director and founder of the Automotive Safety Program and Kohl's Center for Safe Transportation of Children at Riley Hospital for Children, co-authored the article in the prestigious medical journal.
"This is the most exciting and significant research to emerge regarding car seat safety in recent years," Dr. Bull said. "It is essential that we communicate this message to all families to ensure our children are riding as safely as possible."
Preliminary results from a statewide survey conducted in Indiana in 2007 revealed that 85 percent of infants under age one are riding rear-facing in car seats, but only seven percent of children in the second year of life are placed in their car safety seats facing the rear.
Previously, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had recommended that infants ride rear-facing in car seats until they are at least one-year-old and 20 pounds before being turned forward-facing in their car seats. This research will undoubtedly change that official recommendation.
"Armed with the information we now have, it is imperative for parents to keep their children rear-facing in car seats longer," Dr. Bull said. "Children are much better protected in rear-facing car seats. Many models of car seats allow children to ride rear-facing from 30 to 35 pounds."
When infants approach 18 pounds or their head is within an inch of the top of their infant only car seat (between 4 and 10 months of age for most children), parents should make plans to transfer the child to a rear-facing convertible car safety seat.
Riding in rear-facing car seats and other car safety messages will be featured in a public service campaign funded by Kohl's Department Stores. For 11 years, NASCAR and Indy Racing League driver John Andretti, a strong advocate for car seat safety, has dedicated his time to Riley Hospital for Children through his annual Race for Riley go-kart event. Andretti will serve as the spokesperson for this campaign which will air in central Indiana.
Kohl's Department Stores has committed $314,790 in 2008 to the public service campaign and other public service programs at Kohl's Center for Safe Transportation of Children at Riley Hospital for Children.
Parents can find out more information about their car safety seat by carefully reading the instruction manual, which comes with the seat; by calling 1-800-KID-N-CAR; or visiting www.preventinjury.org/fittingstation.asp for a list of car safety seat inspection stations all across Indiana.
Riley Children's Foundation supports Riley Hospital for Children, Camp Riley for Youth with Physical Disabilities and the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home.
As Indiana's only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children, Riley Hospital has provided compassionate care, support and comfort to children and their families since 1924. More than 192,000 families turn to Riley for care each year. Children come from all 92 Indiana counties, across the nation and throughout the world. Riley Hospital's partnership with Clarian Health and its strong affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine make Riley Hospital for Children the leader in pediatric care in the state and the region.