Child Passenger Safety:

Transcription

1 Child Passenger Safety: National Recommendations and State Resources 2012 Traffic Injury Prevention Project CAR-BELT November 28, 2012 Objectives Provide current recommendations on child passenger safety (AAP and NHTSA) Discuss child passenger safety laws in PA Increase awareness of available CPS resources to PA families and advocates Provide information on locating Certified child passenger safety technician in PA 1

2 AAP Policy Released March, 2011 Algorithm Rear Facing Position All infants and toddlers should ride in a Rear Facing Car Safety Seat until they are 2 years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat s manufacturer. 2

3 Rear Facing Position 21% of U.S. infants less than age 1 or 20 lbs. are incorrectly seated in forward facing seats. Children up to age 2 placed in FF CSS are 1.8 times more likely to be seriously injured than children up to age 2 in RF CSS. Applies for all crash types (frontal, side) and age groups (0 to 23 months) Forward facing children ages 12 to 23 months were over five times as likely to be injured when compared to rear facing children of the same age. Rear Facing Position 34% of U.S. children are obese or overweight More child restraints with higher weight limits are becoming available to accommodate this change 3

4 Forward Facing Position All children 2 years or older, or those younger than 2 who have outgrown the rear facing weight or height limit of their car safety seat should use a Forward Facing Car Safety Seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat s manufacturer. Forward Facing Position When correctly placed in a FF CSS vs. a seat belt alone, children ages 1 to 4 have a 71% reduction in serious injury risk. Forward Facing vs. Unrestrained ( ) 1-to 4-year-olds placed in forward facing restraints reduced their risk of dying in a crash by 54%. Forward Facing vs. Seat Belt 2-to 6-year-olds placed in forward facing restraints reduced their fatality risk by 22%. 4

5 Belt-Positioning Booster All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their car safety seat should use a Belt- Positioning Booster Seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age. Belt-Positioning Booster Most seat belts do not properly fit children until they are 4 9 and between 8 and 12 years of age Proper fit of a lap and shoulder belt Shoulder belt should lie across the center of the chest NOT across the neck or face Lap belt should sit low across the hips and pelvis NOT on the abdomen Child should be tall enough to sit against seatback with knees bent and without slouching 5

6 Belt Positioning Booster Effectiveness in Preventing Injury Children ages 4 to 8 secured in a BPB seat 45% less likely to sustain injury than those using a seat belt alone (no difference high back vs. no back) Side Impact Children ages 4 to 8 secured in a BPB seat 68% reduction of injury in near-side crash 82% reduction in injury in far-side crash Belt-Positioning Booster Prevention of Deaths Booster Seats vs. Unrestrained: 67% reduced fatality risk for ages 4 to 5 55% reduced fatality risk for ages 6 to 8 Booster Seats vs. Seat belts Booster seats do not appear to offer additional protection against fatal injuries in severe crashes as compared to seat belts alone. 6

7 Lap and Shoulder Belts When children are old enough and large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use Lap and Shoulder Seat Belts for optimal protection. Lap and Shoulder Belts Since 2005, lap and shoulder belts are required in all rear seating positions Lap and shoulder belt vs. lap belt only For children placed in the center rear, there is 81% less risk of injury with lap and shoulder belt vs. lap belt only Lap and shoulder belt vs. Unrestrained Seatbelts reduce the risk of serious injury or death by 40% for children ages 4 to 14. If 100% of passengers ages 8 to 15 were properly restrained by a lap and shoulder belt: 45% less deaths would occur 32% less hospitalizations would occur 7

8 Rear Seating Position All children younger than 13 years should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection. Rear Seating Position Injury Risk by Row and Restraint Type Children riding in the front seat are 40% to 70% more likely to be injured than those riding in the rear. The rear seat benefit extends to side impact crashes 62% less likely to be injured when riding in the rear seat Risk of injury (%) No restraint/front seat No restraint/rear seat Inappropriate restraint/front seat Appropriate restraint/front seat Inappropriate restraint/rear seat Appropriate restraint/rear seat

9 NHTSA Recommendations Select a car seat based on your child s age and size, and choose a seat that fits in your vehicle and use it every time. Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer s instructions; read the vehicle owner s manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or LATCH system; and check height and weight limits. To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer s height and weight requirements. Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12. NHTSA Recommendations Birth 12 months Children under age 1 should ride rear-facing; Always keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time. 1-3 years Keep your child rear-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer; Once the child outgrows the rear-facing car seat place the child is ready to travel forward-facing. 9

10 NHTSA Recommendations 4-7 years Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the seat allowed by the manufacturer; Once they outgrow the forward-facing car seat, they can travel in a BPB in the back seat. NHTSA Recommendations 8-12 years Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly: The lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it s safer. 10

11 Pennsylvania s Child Passenger Safety Law All drivers are responsible for securing children in the appropriate child restraint system. Birth up to age 4 - Car Seat / Primary 4 up to age 8 Booster / Primary 8 up to age 18 Seat Belt / Primary According to the law 4581(d): A child passenger restraint system and a child booster seat shall be used as designated by the manufacturer of the system in motor vehicles equipped with seat safety belts and shall meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS 213). Note: Children between the ages of 8 and 18 must be properly restrained in a vehicle seat belt system. Booster Seat Exemptions Title 67: Transportation Chapter 102 Child Passenger Protection Statement of Policy All children who are 4 years of age but younger than 8 years of age: Weigh less than 40 lbs. /Car Seat with Harness Weigh more than 80 lbs. or are 4 9 / Seat Belt Vehicle not originally equipped with a shoulder belt / Lap Belt = no booster Booster requirement satisfied with integrated child restraint or booster 11

12 Booster Seat Exemptions Title 67: Transportation Chapter 102 Child Passenger Protection Statement of Policy Medical Exemption from use of the child passenger restraint system for medical reasons: Written Certification by a physician that use of a child passenger restraint system is impractical. Physician s name and practice address Date the form was completed Name, age, weight of the child Medical or physical reasons that the use of a particular child passenger restraint system is impractical The completed form must be in the vehicle with the child whenever the child is transported. PA Car Seat Loan Programs 12

13 Finding a Loan Program 13

14 Finding a Loan Program Finding a Loan Program 14

15 PA Fitting Stations 15

16 Finding a Fitting Station Finding a Fitting Station 16

17 CPS Technicians in PA 17

18 Finding a CPS Technician 18

19 Finding a CPS Technician 19

20 PA Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics, Traffic Injury Prevention Project Rose Tree Corporate Center II 1400 N. Providence Road Suite 3007 Media, PA CAR-BELT 20