The Effects of Not Using Safety Seats
Buckling children into safety and booster seats would seem a top priority for parents. Yet government studies reveal that fewer than half of parents take this precaution and those who do, do so infrequently. According to Consumer Affairs, a study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine found that only 40 percent of parents used safety seats or boosters for their children at least some of the time. Such practices increase safety risks.
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Neck and Spinal Injuries
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The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all infants should ride facing the back seat at least until their first birthday and weigh at least 20 lbs. They should ride in this rear-facing fashion until the maximum weight and height deemed by the car seat manufacturer has been reached.
Safety seats place infants in a slight reclining position. Without a safety seat, the infant's head can snap forward, causing whiplash and inflicting damage on the infant's developing spine, which is mostly composed of cartilage.
Blunt Trauma and Choking
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Seat belts restrain an individual in a collision and prevent ejection. The force of a serious collision, however, can still create blunt injuries. A child without a booster seat is not tall enough to appropriately fit the seat belt measurements. A correct seat belt fit entails the higher strap crossing the shoulder. The strap would fall close to a child's neck if a booster seat is not implemented, presenting a choking risk.
In a collision, the safety seat will absorb some energy from the impact. Without it, the child can suffer from full-on blunt trauma, including hemorrhaging and internal organ damage.
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Vehicular Crushing and Ejection
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Because the seat belt fits inappropriately, smaller children can slip out of the restraints and fall onto the floor. This scenario presents the opportunity for a child to be crushed or ejected. Motor vehicle accidents are the No. 1 cause for childhood death in the United States.
Warnings
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Follow the instructions in your safety seat's owner's manual.
Only use safety seats and boosters in automobiles. Safety seats and boosters are designed specifically for automobile use, and should not be used in other environments.
Never leave your secured infant unattended in the car even if your infant appears to be safe. Your infant's breathing can be compromised by carbon monoxide and other factors.
Avoid dressing your infant in puffy, bulky clothing. This type of material creates compression, which can cause seat belts to slacken in a motor vehicle crash.
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