Citation

Olsen CS, Cook LJ, Keenan HT, Olson LM. Accid. Anal. Prev. 2010; 42(2): 771-777.

Affiliation

Intermountain Injury Control Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, PO Box 581289, Salt Lake City, UT 84158-1289, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.aap.2009.11.009

PMID

20159106

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We examined the association between driver restraint use and child emergency department (ED) evaluation following a motor vehicle crash (MVC). METHODS: This cohort study included child passengers aged 0-12 years riding with an adult driver aged 21 years or older involved in a MVC in Utah from 1999 to 2004. The 6 years of Utah MVC records were probabilistically linked to statewide Utah ED records. We estimated the relative risk of ED evaluation following a MVC for children riding with restrained versus unrestrained drivers. Generalized estimating equations were used to calculate relative risks adjusted for child, driver, and crash characteristics. RESULTS: Six percent (6%) of children riding with restrained adult drivers were evaluated in the ED compared to twenty-two percent (22%) of children riding with unrestrained adult drivers following a MVC (relative risk 0.29, 95% confidence interval 0.26-0.32). After adjusting for child, vehicle, and crash characteristics, the relative risk of child ED evaluation associated with driver restraint remained significant (relative risk 0.82, 95% confidence interval 0.72-0.94). Driver restraint use was associated with child restraint use, less alcohol/drug involvement, and lower relative risk of severe collision types (head-on, rollover). CONCLUSIONS: Driver seat belt use is associated with decreased risk of ED evaluation for child passengers in the event of a MVC.

Language: en