Study of Older Child Restraint/Booster Seat Fit and NASS Injury Analysis

摘要

The Agency initiated this program to study the older child population withrespect to the automotive environment. The program had three parts: an analysis of injuries using the National Accident Sampling System database, a restraint/booster seat fit survey with 155 volunteers aged 6-12, and an anthropometry study of the volunteers. The information gathered would provide guidance for future child safety initiatives. The NASS analysis revealed that older and younger children generally have the same injury patterns and similar injury frequencies in automotive accidents. However, restrained older children are more likely to receive an injury than restrained younger children (37.2% with MAIS 1-7 vs. 29.2% with MAIS 1-7). In the anthropometry study, height, weight, sitting height, and age data were collected for each child, and the averages by age were compared to results from an extensive child anthropometry study conducted by the University of Michigan in 1975. Height and sitting height matched well, while children in the current study appeared heavier. However, the clothing and shoes worn by the current volunteers partly accounts for the difference. In the restraint fit survey, each child sat in the rear seat alone and in three belt-positioning booster seats (Volvo, Kangaroo, Century CR-3) in three vehicles (Ford Taurus, Pontiac Sunbird, Dodge Caravan).