Within the ISO/TC22/SC12/WGI "Child Restraint Systems" (CRS) an ad-hoc group was founded to develop a test standard for side impact child protection in child seats. Within this task an international accident database with Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (MAIS) 2+ injured children has been established. This material, from 10 research institutes, compiling a total database of 139 side impacts of 0-12 year-old children, has been analyzed. From this sample a selected database with 69 cases has been assembled. Cases with misuse, ejection and catastrophic intrusions have been excluded to focus on accidents with correctly working restraint systems. For children sitting in a CRS, severe to critical injuries were critical injuries were observed mostly for head and cervical spine, whereas 2/3- point belted children showed a higher incidence of thorax and abdominal injuries. Injury causation was analyzed in cases with forward child movement and compared between struck side and non-struck side. Severe head injuries are found in connection with door, intruding object/opponent and A/B pillar contact. First results indicate that young children (0-3 years) showed an increased injury risk. Therefore, the development of a lateral crash standard should have priority regarding the corresponding 0+1 ECE groups (US: infant and toddler seats). (A)
Abstract