Parents are faced with an array of choices when choosing a child safety seat (CSS) for their child. Convertible CSS's are available in three basic harness designs: five-point, T-shield, and tray-shield. Previous research has quantified the prevalence of misuse of child safety seats and has identified specific misuse modes. The primary objective of this study was to quantify the relationship between harness types and the prevalence of specific modes of misuse. Currently, remediation of CSS misuse requires individualised technical assistance that takes into account the child, the CSS, and the vehicle. CSS clinics provide one way to administer in-person education about correct CSS use and to directly observe CSS installation by parents. Clinics, however, require a great deal of preparation time by event organisers as well as an extraordinary amount of staff time and effort on weekends and other non-business hours. Telephone assistance on the correct use of CSS, in the form of CSS hotlines, has the potential to reach a broader audience with none of the seasonal or geographic limitations of clinics. One factor that may limit the effectiveness of telephone advice is that it relies on the accuracy of parental report of CSS practices and specific modes of misuse. No prior study has determined the ability of parents to report their child restraint practices. Therefore, a secondary objective of this study was to assess the accuracy with which parents describe the way they restrain their children and report characteristics of CSS use and misuse. (A)
Abstract