CHOP'S Child Passenger Safety Research In the News
Today Show: Center Experts Comment on the Latest Developments in Child Passenger Safety Technology
November 5, 2009 – Kristy Arbogast, PhD, explains how booster seats work to prevent seat belt syndrome injuries. The piece features the Injury Center's bioengineering research with Rowan University to develop a more accurate pediatric crash dummy.
Watch the segment and read the article
Good Morning America: Center Experts Respond to Controversial SuperFreakonomics Chapter on the Effectiveness of Car Seats
October 20, 2009 – Dennis Durbin, MD, MSCE, and Kristy Arbogast, PhD, were invited to comment on the new book, SuperFreakonomics, which includes a chapter questioning the effectiveness of car seats. The traffic safety experts from the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at CHOP reassured parents that car seat use is the single most important safety decision they can make to protect their children.
See the story on ABCNews.com
New Study Reaffirms Booster Seat Recommendations for Children Through Age 8
October 19, 2009 – A study conducted by researchers at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that children seated in a belt-positioning booster seat in the rear of the car are 45 percent less likely to be injured in a crash compared with children using a seat belt alone. Children riding in booster seats involved in side-impact crashes saw the greatest reduction in injury risk. The study results are published in the November 2009 issue of Pediatrics.
Read the press release.
CHOP Experts Launch Website to Help Families of Crash-injured Kids
May 27, 2009 – Motor vehicle injuries among children under 15 spike during summer. These injuries can affect children and parents physically and emotionally. Today, a team of CHOP behavioral researchers, trauma surgeons, and trauma nurses launched a new website -- www.AfterTheInjury.org . This comprehensive, free resource was developed to help parents help their kids achieve a full physical and emotional recovery. The new site includes expert advice on everything from how to handle a hospital visit, cast care, and pain management to what to do if a child is having nightmares after a crash. Parents can download tip sheets, watch video, and create a personalized care plan to share with their child' doctor.
Read the press release
Visit www.afterhtheinjury.org
CHOP Experts Respond to Concerns over Government Crash Tests of Infant Seats
March 2, 2009 –
Following recent news stories reporting on the poor performance of infant seats in government crash tests, child passenger safety researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention want to offer reassurance to parents concerned about their children’s safety.
Read the researchers' response
New Research Compares Safety of SUVs, Minivans for Children
February 3, 2009 – Research published today in the journal Injury Prevention shows that both SUVs and minivans protect children extremely well when appropriately restrained for their age and size. No significant difference in fatality risk was found between the two types of vehicles after adjusting for child, driver, and vehicle characteristics (including rollover). However, children in minivans were less likely to sustain non-fatal injuries as compared to those in SUV's. Researchers say families considering an SUV should choose one with Electronic Stability Control, which considerably reduces the risk of serious rollover crashes.
Read the study abstract
Children with Special Needs Affecting Behavior are More Likely Than Other Children to be Restrained Correctly, but Researchers See No Reduction in Injury Rate
February 1, 2009 – The first large-scale study on child restraint use and injury risk among children with special needs likely to affect behavior appears in the February issue of Pediatrics. Although children with special needs likely to affect behavior were more likely to be appropriately restrained in motor vehicles as compared to children with no special needs, they had a similar risk of injury.
Center Expert Weighs in on IIHS Booster Seat Study
October 3, 2008 – Kristy Arbogast, PhD, the Center’s director of engineering, reinforces the effectiveness of booster seats in reducing crash injuries to children in response to a recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The study examined the ability of booster seats to position seat belts appropriately on child occupants.
Read the Wall Street Journal article.
Read the Associated Press article.
Read the Center's Statement.
New Study Confirms Current Recommendations for 0 to 3-year-olds in Child Restraints
May 5, 2008 — A study released today in the journal Pediatrics confirms that placing children in the rear seat of the car in the appropriate carseat for their height and weight reduces their risk of injury. According to the researchers restraining children in the center rear seat offers a small protective benefit compared to outboard seating positions.
Read the study abstract.
Download a factsheet on safe seating positions.
Click here to find a car seat fitting station near you.
Half of the Kids Who Died in Crashes Had Teen Drivers
March 3, 2008 — In this MSNBC.com feature, the Center's Director, Dr. Flaura Winston, explains new research findings about tween and teen passengers.
Read the article.
Car Crash Deaths Increase Starting at Age 12
March 3, 2008 — Older child passengers, ages 12 to 17, are more likely to die in a car crash than younger children, according to a study released today in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. This risk increases with each teenage year. The study offers evidence-based guidelines for parents and policymakers to help protect this vulnerable age group. Researchers advise parents to talk about safe passenger behaviors by age 12.
Read the press release and watch a video.
"The Impact of Car Seats: A New Prescription for Prevention?"
January 25, 2008 - In this Opinion piece for ABCNews.com, Laura Jana, MD, supports CHOP's findings from a recent paper explaining why Medicaid should cover prescriptions for car seats.
Read the article.
Medicaid Reimbursement for Car Seats Is Cost-Effective Health Policy
January 16, 2008 - New research from CHOP and State Farm shows that distributing car safety seats among economically disadvantaged children could be as cost-effective as long-established federal vaccination programs. The research, published this week in the journal Ambulatory Pediatrics, offers insights for state and national lawmakers involved in setting future healthcare policy, particularly for those interested in exploring programs with a greater focus on preventive care for children.
View the full press release
See more KKSDC news in the Archives.