Child passenger restraint use and emergency department-reported injuries : a special study using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance SystemûAll Injury Program, 2004.

In 2004, more than 180,000 child passengers aged = 12 years sought care in U.S. hospital emergency departments (EDs) for injuries sustained in motor-vehicle crashes (MVCs). Nine percent of the children were unrestrained and 36% were inappropriately restrained. Blacks and Hispanics were about six times more likely to be unrestrained than NonûHispanic Whites (12% and 14%, respectively, vs. 2%). Seventyûseven percent of inappropriate restraint use occurred among children aged 4û8 years, who were prematurely placed in seatbelts. Eight percent of children required hospitalization; unrestrained children were three times more likely to be hospitalized than restrained children (21% vs. 7%). Ageûappropriate restraint use should be promoted for child passengers, particularly among Blacks, Hispanics, and children riding in trucks. (A) Reprinted with permission from Elsevier.