Rothwell

Stacie Rothwell

Dr. Donald Stinson

English 1113

4/27/2021

As we buckle up infants or toddlers in their car seat; how do you know that they are safe in their

car seat?

By Granicus- Connecting People and Government: The Ultimate Car Seat Guide from Safe Kids,

https://fire.mesaaz.gov/residents/fire-medical/fire-life-safety-education/car-seat-safety Mesa

Fire and Medical Department from Az does not have technicians available to help install car seat

for families. But they sure do know what it's like to save children from a hot vehicle. In Az metro

area can be dangerous for children to be kept in a car seat for even a short period of time. “The

inside of a car can reach life-threatening temperatures when outside temperatures are as low at

70 degrees.” The inside of a vehicle can reach temperatures up to 170 degrees in direct sunlight

with outside temperature of 100 degrees.

Children body temperatures can reach a higher temperature faster than adults. “Their body

temperature warm 3 to 5 times faster than adults” says Granicus.

By Yu-Yun Huang, Chang Liu and Joyce C. Pressley Restraint use and injury in forward and

rear-facing infants and toddlers involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash on a U.S Roadway.

www.injepijournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40621-019-0200-4

Car seat safety from 2008-2015 and the change in 2011 when American Academy of Pediatrics

(AAP) changed the state's law infants should be rea-facing until the age of 2 years.
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The data in the article shows 0-2 years involved in car crashes that involved deaths. The data

comes from Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) that are separated into categories odd

ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI). 4996 infants 0-2 years were in fatal car crash. 330 of

4996 infants were unrestrained.

(AAP) showed not much of a change happened in the years 2011-2015. The National Highway

Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggested that the car manufactures guidelines should

be consider because there was not much of a difference.

By Camille L. Stewart, Megan Moscariello, Kristine W. Hansen and Steven L. Moulton. Infant

Car Safety Seats and Risk of Head Injury. www.jpedsurg.org/article/S0022-3468(13)00773-

2/fulltext.

In the years 2007-2011 1.3 million children (about the population of New Hampshire) were in

car crashes. 70% of the those were head injuries. Head injuries are common in car crashes.

Infants have large heads compared to their body; this results in an easier head injury for infants.

The force between the car and the car seat on impact is fatal or could cause brain damage, tearing

of veins and other serous effects.

The department of transportation showed data of the injuries from 2007 to 2011. The data is in

(OR) ratios and (95% CI). 833 infants were involved in car crashes in the 5-year period. The data

from the department of transportation shows in many different areas of the cars where infants

were during the time of impact. Some of these areas' infant was not in a car seat. 94.5 % of

infants were in car seat, 1.3% of infants unknown.

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This article continues with head injuries and if car seats are the best place to be when in a car

crash. Stewart says “you are much less likely to even get injured if you are in a car seat”. Head

injuries for infants in car crashes is the highest injury.

By Mayo Clinic Staff: Car seat safety: Avoid 9 common mistakes, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-

lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/car-seat-safety/art-20043939

Mayo Clinic Staff “Car seat safety isn’t child’s play.” When it comes to buckling up children in

car seats is no joking matter. This article takes common mistakes often use by parents. Giving

examples of how to use a car seat correctly. There are many things that can go wrong when a car

seat is not used correctly. Installing a car seat and bucking a child correctly will ensure the safety

of a child.

Car seat safety is not just buckling and installing a car seat. This also can include jackets,

blankets, and toys around the car seat. Having object around the car seat can harm a child just as

the car seat being installed incorrectly. When a child is in their car seat nothing should be

blocking the harness between the child and the harness. “Bulky outerwear and blankets can

prevent harness straps from snugly securing your child.” Mayo Clinic Staff.

Also, as a child gets older moving out of one car seat to another; can be done incorrectly. Be sure

to check the size and weight of the child and what is required for that car seat. Placing a child in

the wrong car seat can do just as much harm. “You can switch from a car seat to a booster seat

when your child has topped the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer.”

Mayo Clinic Staff.

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