The paper on injuries to restrained children by Henderson, M., Brown, J. and Paine, M. (see C 3545 (IRRD 873514) offers important information concerning the possibility of restraint-caused neck injuries in children such as have been described by others. It presents considerable anecdotal information concerning crash performance and misuse problems of restraint meeting the Australian regulations. It contains methodological insights for other investigators of child restraint accidents. The finding of none among 62 children in very severe crashes in this paper is very reassuring, but not unexpected. The spectre that the tether, by holding back the child seat more firmly, would heighten the chances of neck chances of neck injury is not supported. The paper indicates that Australian child seats, as in other countries, are very effective when properly used in preventing injury or death even in severe crashes.
Samenvatting