What Is the Meaning of ERF?
Every parent wants her child to be safe when traveling in a car. Car seats are installed and strapped down. Children are buckled in and every safety device that can be purchased surrounds the child. However, despite the best efforts of the parent the child still may not be in the safest position possible in the car. In Europe many parents are employing the techniques of ERF to increase their young child’s safety in the car.
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Definition
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ERF is an acronym used for Extended Rear Facing. This means that the child remains facing the rear of the car in the car seat beyond the typical 20 pound weight threshold. Many car seats are turned to face forward once the child has exceeded 20 pounds.
Where is ERF Used
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The practice of ERF is most commonly used in Sweden. However, parents of other European countries are starting to embrace the practice as well. Extended rear facing practices in the United States haven’t caught on as a common practice yet. However, many parents are still unaware of the benefits of ERF.
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Benefits
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Children whose parents are using the ERF practice are less likely to be injured in a front collision, which make up 80 percent of all accidents. When a child is in a rear facing car seat and is involved in a front end accident the momentum of the child is carried deeper into the back of the car seat which provides superior support and protection for the back and neck of the child.
Statistics
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A front end collision is highly dangerous for children who are facing forward in a car seat. The size of an 18-month-old's head is roughly 25 perent of his body mass and is the most unstable part of his body. When in a front facing car seat and in a frontal collision the child is unable to control his head with his underdeveloped neck and muscles. The result is that the child’s head snaps forward violently which can result in severe damages. According to Thomas Turbell who is considered the father of rear facing car seats, employing ERF can reduce serious injuries in the event of an accident by 92 percent.
Front or Back
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The rear seat is always the safest with a rear facing car seat due to the added distance between the child and the engine. However, as long as any airbags that are located in the front seat are deactivated the child can ride safely in a rear facing car seat in the front seat as well.
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References
- Photo Credit child in the car image by Natalia Pavlova from Fotolia.com
