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Published on: September 21, 2017
Study: ED providers could be doing more to prevent injuries, deaths related to improperly restrained child passengers
Insights
Emergency providers often miss chances to educate families on correct car seat use after crashes. Improved discharge instructions and provider experience sharing are recommended for child passenger safety.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children.
- Inadequate use of child restraints contributes significantly to child passenger injuries.
- Existing data indicates a concerning prevalence of improper restraint use among young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess emergency providers' practices regarding child restraint information during discharge after motor vehicle crashes.
- To identify missed opportunities in educating families on proper car seat usage.
- To highlight the importance of child passenger safety in emergency department (ED) settings.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to a random sample of 1200 emergency physicians nationwide.
- The survey assessed the likelihood of providing discharge instructions on car seat use for a 2-year-old involved in a motor vehicle crash.
- Data on current child restraint use patterns was referenced.
Main Results:
- Fewer than 50% of responding physicians reported providing car seat safety advice in discharge instructions.
- Significant percentages of children aged 1-7 are not using age-appropriate restraints.
- Child passenger injuries remain a critical public health concern, particularly for children over 3 years old.
Conclusions:
- Emergency departments represent a crucial point for intervention in child passenger safety.
- Enhancing discharge instructions with child passenger safety resources is recommended.
- Emergency providers should leverage their experience to emphasize the importance of proper child restraint.
Abstract:
Researchers from the University of Michigan's CS Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI, report that both general and pediatric-trained emergency providers are missing opportunities to get critical information about the proper use of child restraints out to the families of children when they are brought to the ED following motor vehicle crashes. In a survey sent to a random sample of 1200 emergency physicians across the country, fewer than one-half of the responding physicians indicated that the parents of a 2-year-old being discharged from their ED following a motor vehicle crash would be supplied with discharge instructions that include advice about the proper use of car seats. The study notes that 20% of 1 to 3-year-olds and about one-half of 4 to 7-year-olds are typically not restrained in the recommended restraint for their age. Child passenger injuries in crashes are the leading cause of death for children who are older than age 3 years in the United States, and they are the second leading cause of death among children aged 1 to 4. Researchers recommend that resources on child passenger safety be highlighted in discharge instructions, and that emergency providers tap into their own experiences when speaking with families about the importance of properly restraining child passengers.
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Assessment:
1. Clinical Evaluation:
History: