Overweight Children are NOT Adequately Protected in Car Seats
For the past ten years, the news media has consistently focused our attention on the fact that obesity is on the rise; that it has become a major problem in 
the United States, and that childhood obesity, in particular, has put young children at-risk for a multitude of health-related issues.
One surprising health-related issue stems from the fact that many infants and toddlers are being transported in car seats that are not safe for them to be riding in, and I am not referring to the improper installation of those seats. The problem I AM referring to is the fact that when car seats are crash-tested, the crash-dummies that are used to simulate the effects of an accident impact do not reflect the overweight child population being transported.
With so many young obese children today, common sense should dictate that the crash-dummy’s weight and dimensions more closely match that of the children using the car seats being tested.
In an article on the ThirdAge.Com website, March 29, 2011, under Boomer Health and Lifestyle, Katherine Rausch highlights a problem that although acknowledged for some time, has been awaiting a solution since 2004, but researchers have not come up with a product. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration is using smaller adult version dummies for child crash-testing. Why? According to a recent article in the Washington Post, it’s because crash test dummies are expensive to develop and funding is not readily available to develop larger “life-like” child test dummies. This leaves child safety seat manufacturers self-regulating their own products. It also means that seats made just a few years ago to hold 65lb children are now marketed for those up to 85lbs.
It appears that heavier-weight crash-dummies have been in development for adults for decades now. Why haven’t overweight children been given the same attention?
With so many recent news reports about the American Academy of Pediatrics’ and NHTSA’s “new safety seat guidelines”, are we deluding ourselves into thinking our kids are safe?
Be Ready, Be Buckled: Create Lifetime Seatbelt Wearers
In past articles I have written about various programs sponsored by the federal government that help to promote safety in kids. My most recent 
post was about distracted driving. For this post I have found a new program and site that I think is perfect to highlight and to showcase on this blog.
The program is called “Be Ready, Be Buckled”. Among its sponsors are the DOT, the National Highway Traffic safety administration and others. One aspect of the program is to encourage kids, K through 6th grade or age 5-12 to submit original artwork which focuses on the theme and supports the use of seat belts.
Some suggested questions or discussions to help inspire young artists include:
- Why is it important to buckle up every time while driving or riding in a bus, truck or car?
- How does the motto Safety Belts Save lives apply to bus and truck drivers as well as Kids and families.
- What would happen if a truck or bus driver did not buckle up on the job?
Two grand prize winners will be selected by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). The top 12 will complete the 2011 calendar. The picture at the top of this post is last year’s winner.
Even if your child does not win they and the family will share a bonding experience over safety and will hopefully create lifetime seatbelt wearers and champions. Please feel free to submit a copy of your child’s artwork here: info@pediatricsafety.net - we would love to post it on Pediatric Safety and to help encourage everyone to buckle up. For more official information and for the contest entry form please go to:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/documents/safety-security/2011-ArtContest.pdf
Jay K. | Matthews, NC; Sun., Aug. 15, 2010
This is clearly over-due ! ! The sooner the better ! !
Ruth T. | East Islip, NY; Thu., Aug. 5, 2010
As a nurse, I have ridden ambulances that do not have a way to secure small children and infants. I strongly support this necessary improvement to our EMS system.
Michael M. | Valley Cottage, NY; Thu., Aug. 5, 2010
Parents – as well as society – ought to know that injured or sick children will be safely transported in an ambulance.Flag Comment
