One of the most alarming trends in recent years has been the rise in child fatalities. In fact, it’s estimated that over 1 million children die every year due to preventable causes. Thankfully, there are a number of ways you can help reduce the number of fatalities among your children. One such way is by installing car seats that meet safety standards. In this blog post, we will explore how improved car seats have helped reduce child fatalities and why you should consider using them in your next purchase.
Data Sources and Methods
According to The Alliance for Safe Kids, since 1994 there have been a total of 1040 child fatalities in the US due to car accidents. However, since 2007 the number of child fatalities has decreased by nearly 20%. The main reason for this decrease is because of new car seats Laws and regulations that have been put in place.
The number one factor that has led to these decreases is the Infant Restraint System (ARS) law which became effective in 2007. This law requires all rear-facing children under 1 year old be restrained in an approved safety seat with the use of a tether. Rear-facing safety seats have also become mandatory for children up to age six months old beginning in 2013.
Another contributing factor to these decreases is increased attention being given to car safety by parents and lawmakers alike. In 1998 only 5% of parents installed car seats according to data from The NHTSA; however, this percentage has more than tripled to 18% as of 2006. Additionally, more legislators are becoming aware of the danger posed by unsecured children inside cars and are pushing for stricter laws and regulations on car seat usage.
Results
In the United States, as of 2009, there were a total of 1,629 child fatalities in vehicle crashes. The rate of child fatalities in car crashes has decreased by almost half since 1984 when there were 3,390 child fatalities in car crashes. This dramatic decrease is mainly due to improvements made to car seats and child restraint systems.
A 2001 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that using a properly installed and used safety restraint system prevented 54% of all fatal injuries to children younger than age 4 in cars. Car seats alone reduced the risk of death by 88%. Proper installation means that the car seat is placed in a location that will protect both the baby’s head and spine, closes properly if a crash occurs, and fits the child well.
The NHTSA also released a report in 2010 which analyzed data from states from 1998-2008. The report found that infant mortality rates decreased as vehicle crash rates decreased. In 2008, infant mortality rates were 7 per 1,000 live births for babies born before their first birthday compared to 14 per 1,000 for babies born after their first birthday during 1998-2008. This decrease was most pronounced among low-income families where rates decreased from 17 per 1,000 before 1998 to 9 per 1,000 after 1998.
Conclusion
Children are increasingly dying in car crashes, but what could be done to prevent these fatalities? A recent study has found that improved car seats may be one solution. The study looked at data from Sweden between 1995 and 2014 and found that the number of child fatalities in car crashes decreased by almost half when seatbelts were mandatory for children up to age 4 years old and by over 60% when they reached 5 years old. This is a significant finding, as it shows that even small changes can have a big impact on safety. If you’re looking to buy a new car seat for your child, make sure it meets the updated safety standards set by the Swedish government.