Safe Restraint of the Child Passenger.
From: Emergency Department, Starship Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. matt.lee@xtra.co.nz
Journal of paediatrics and child health
- Publish Date: Dec 2006
- ISSN: 1034-4810
- Volume: 42
- Issue: 12
- Pages: 752-7
- Medium: Print
- Language: English
- Citation (JAMA): Cameron Leanne, Segedin Elizabeth, Nuthall Gabrielle, et al. Safe Restraint of the Child Passenger.. J Paediatr Child Health Dec 2006;42:752-7
Abstract
AIM: The aim of this study was to understand the need for, and use of, booster seats in the 4-12 years age group and to identify risk factors for booster seat-non-use. METHOD: A cross-sectional sample of 1101 children aged 4-12 years travelling in 663 privately owned vehicles was taken from the Auckland region. Auckland is New Zealand’s largest population centre, with a population of over 1.5 million. Information was gathered using a short questionnaire followed by direct inspection to identify those children using booster seats. The SafetyBeltSafe USA ‘5-step rule’ was used to look at those children not using a booster seat to determine whether one was still required. RESULTS: While booster seat use has improved significantly in younger children since a similar study in 1992, only 40% of sampled children requiring a booster seat were using one. Booster seat use by children requiring them declined sharply as age increased. While 93% of 5- to 8-year-olds required a booster, only 30% were using one. The requirement for booster seats fell dramatically to 34% of 9- to 12-year-olds, but only 3% were using one. CONCLUSION: The high rate of need for booster seats and the lack of use of booster seats in children aged 5-8 years is a strong argument for legislation and education programmes targeting this age group. While the proportion of 9- to 12-year-olds needing a booster drops sharply, there would likely be benefits from educating parents on the ‘5-step rule’ or similar method to help identify the 30% of these older children that would continue to benefit from a booster seat. Rear seating should be promoted alongside booster seat use in the age group 4-12 years.
Mesh Headings (Keywords): Automobile Driving, Body Height, Body Weight, Child, Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Multivariate Analysis, New Zealand, Parents, Protective Devices, Risk Factors, Seat Belts, Socioeconomic Factors
Check for Full Text / PubMed Unique Identifier (PMID): 17096708
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