Question: I was recently
in a car accident with my children sitting in the backseat. My children were
jolted even with the safely harness on. Could my children have suffered
injuries? Could I have prevented the injuries?
Answer: Car seat safety
is a priority issue in the present state of society. Children are being
transported to school, sporting events, music, ballet, and pretty much
everywhere on a daily basis. Children spend hours in vehicles daily. Safety is
imperative whether you are a cautious driver or not. It is usually the other
guy that creates the accident.
According to Stephanie Tombrello, executive director of
Safety Belt Safe USA, “If after you’ve tightened your child into his or her car
seat, you can still pinch the fabric of the harness straps between your
fingers, the harness is to loose.”
The danger posed on a child with a loose harness is that he
or she can easily come out of their car seat in a crash. The child could then be severely injured if
he hits part of the cars interior or another passenger. The worst case
scenario; the child is ejected from the vehicle altogether.
The
majority of fender benders do not eject the child out of their seat. The child can be jolted forward then backward
rapidly creating a whiplash phenomenon. Many adults do not consider the child
in a motor vehicle accident. If the adult suffered a whiplash injury in the
accident then the odds are very high that the children did also. All children
of all ages should be checked by a chiropractor immediately after auto
accidents. Many symptoms do not appear right away. A chiropractor can detect
and help correct injuries sustained to your child in an auto accident. The sooner you bring them in the less chance
of irritation and scar tissue development.
To avoid injury to your children tighten the harness
straps-so they are snug and have no slack. In the case of an accident, get to
your family chiropractor as soon as possible.
Quote of the week: “It is a funny thing about life; if you
refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.” - Somerset Maugham