The biggest danger here is car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 1,300 children aged 14 years and younger died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2009, An additional 179,000 children were injured in those accidents. Road traffic injuries with cars are among the leading causes of death and permanent disability beyond the age of 5 years.
Remember that the back seat is the best place for all children younger than 13 years old. Front seat airbags can hurt kids. Seat belts are a must. They lead to a 45 percent reduction in crash deaths. The use of age-appropriate child safety seats on those summer road trips, according to a study by NHTSA, means a 71 percent reduction in infant injuries and a 54 percent reduction for toddlers. The safest spot? The middle of the back seat.
Leigh Gistinger, CPNP
