This poster presents a study that examined the relationships between age, restraint use, injury severity and crash type for children under age 15 years involved in motor vehicle related crashes during FY 1995/96 in San Diego County (USA). 3,822 children were involved in injury crashes as defined by the California Highway Patrol. Aggregate data from multiple databases were analyzed including injury crash traffic records. Of the children under age 15 seen by paramedics, 36.5% (n=456) were ages 10-14, 35.7% (n=445) were ages 5-9, and 27.8% (n=347) were under age 5. The 10-14 year age group experienced the highest rate of nonrestraint use (18.9%). Of children ages 5-9, 39.3% wore a lap/shoulder belt, 18.7% wore a lap belt only, and 17.3% were unrestrained. Of children under age 5, 40.1% were restrained in child seats, and 17.9% were unrestrained. The following conclusions are made: (1) Children who were restrained by child seats or lap/shoulder restraints were significantly less likely to experience severe injuries in motor vehicle collisions (p=0.036) than children who were unrestrained; and (2) older children restrained in lap belts only suffered a higher percentage of head trauma than those unrestrained or restrained by a lap/shoulder combination (p=0.043). (A)
Abstract