Injuries to children in forward facing child restraints
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Updated: Sep 29, 2026

A Test Bed to Examine Helmet Fit and Retention and Biomechanical Measures of Head and Neck Injury in Simulated Impact
Published on: September 21, 2017
Kristy B Arbogast1, Rebecca A Cornejo, Michael J Kallan
1The Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Insights
Child safety seats (FMVSS 213) protect young children in crashes. Further reducing head, neck, and extremity injuries in forward-facing child restraints can enhance child passenger safety.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric injury biomechanics
- Traffic safety research
- Child restraint system analysis
Background:
- The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS 213) for child restraints is under review.
- Evaluating injury risks and patterns in child restraints is crucial for safety improvements.
- Data from a crash surveillance system (1998-2002) were used to assess child passenger safety.
Observation:
- A probability sample of children aged 12-47 months involved in motor vehicle crashes was analyzed.
- The study linked insurance claims, telephone surveys, and crash investigation data.
- In-depth crash investigations identified injury mechanisms in forward-facing child restraints (FFCRS).
Findings:
- Children in FFCRS experience a low risk of injury during crashes.
- Analysis revealed specific risks for head, neck, and extremity injuries.
- Further reductions in serious injuries are possible by addressing these specific injury types.
Implications:
- Study findings inform current efforts to upgrade FMVSS 213.
- Recommendations aim to enhance the protection of child passengers.
- This research supports evidence-based improvements in child restraint system design and regulation.
Abstract:
The applicability of the federal safety standard that governs child restraints (FMVSS 213) has recently been called into question. Population- based estimates of the risk of injury to children in child restraints and a description of the patterns and mechanisms of injury are necessary to evaluate this standard and identify areas of needed improvement. A probability sample of children 12 to 47 months in crashes was identified in an on-going crash surveillance system (1998-2002) which links insurance claims data to telephone survey and crash investigation data. The risk of injury in forward facing child restraints (FFCRS) was estimated and a series of cases was examined using in-depth crash investigation to identify the mechanisms of these injuries. Although children in FFCRS are well protected in crashes, further reductions in serious injuries might be achieved by reducing head, neck, and extremity injury risks. These results have implications for the current efforts to upgrade the current FMVSS 213 and better protect child passengers.
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