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Updated: May 23, 2026
07:30
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
Head impact contact points for restrained child occupants
Kristy B Arbogast1, Samantha Wozniak, Caitlin M Locey
1Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children’sHospital of Philadelphia, 34th and CivicCenter Blvd, Suite 1150, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. arbogast@email.chop.edu
Traffic Injury Prevention
|March 31, 2012
Summary
Head and face injuries are common in children during car crashes. This study mapped vehicle contact points causing these injuries for rear-seated children, identifying the seat back and B-pillar as key impact areas.
Area of Science:
- Trauma research
- Biomechanics
- Vehicle safety engineering
Background:
- Head injuries are the most frequent injuries in children involved in motor vehicle crashes.
- Previous research highlighted occupant interaction with seat backs and side structures for rear seat occupants.
- Understanding specific contact points is crucial for developing effective countermeasures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a contact map of vehicle interior components associated with head and face injuries.
- To analyze injury causation for rear-seated, restrained children in frontal motor vehicle crashes.
- To inform the development of safety interventions for child occupants.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN).
- Included rear-seated, restrained children (ages 0-15) with head/face injuries (AIS2+) in frontal crashes.
- Developed a contact point map to identify injury causation scenarios.
Main Results:
- Analyzed 21 cases involving children in various restraints (child seats, booster seats, belts).
- Identified the B-pillar as a common contact point for left rear occupants, indicating leftward movement.
- Found the passenger seat back as a frequent contact point for right rear occupants, suggesting forward movement.
Conclusions:
- Delineated head/face injury contact points for restrained children in frontal crashes.
- Head/face injuries were often the most severe, emphasizing the need for mitigation strategies.
- Contact with the first-row seat back and B-pillar were most common; curtain airbags may help reduce impact energy.
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