ALT-1 Airbag Safety and Kids
If you are a mother with young children, their safety is paramount in every decision you make. So choosing what new car to go for can be a major headache. One of the first things to be sure about has to be the airbags.
There are two main types. The first is the frontal airbag system. Nowadays the latest models are fitted with sensors that feed in information to determines just how much power should go into the inflation of the bag. The second type is the side-impact airbag system. This type has sub-categories that protect the head, torso, or both of those together.
There's no question that airbags save lives; since they were introduced in the 1980s, they are known to have reduced the mortality rate by about 30%. What they are designed to do is slow and stop the movement of a passenger before they hit a hard surface like the steering wheel, dashboard or side of the car. Imagine your body being thrown around in a serious accident until your head goes through the windscreen. That's the sort of thing that an airbag prevents when it detects a collision and inflates in less than a 20th of a second, before starting to deflate and cushion the impact.
Of course the airbag doesn't do it alone. It can only work in combination with properly fitted seat belts. If you were not restrained by belts across your chest and tummy, your body could leave your seat completely and be in the wrong position to be cushioned by the airbag.
That's one reason why airbags have not always proved safe for young kids. Seat belts are designed with adults in mind. They don't always restrain smaller beings when they have been jolted by an accident. There's also another reason for airbag injuries to children. The head of a child might be in the position of an adult's chest. So the airbag designed with the power to stop an adult's torso might actually hit the small child's head.
But don't fret. There are ways to keep your little ones safe. Lots of research has been done on the subject and guidelines issued.
For tinies, these are very simple. Kids ride in the back in appropriate seats and restraints. A rear-facing infant seat must never be placed in the front passenger seat, where an airbag could crush the baby back into the seat, where it could suffocate.
For older kids the guidelines can vary. It has been suggested that a child older than 12 can sit in the front, but we all know that the size of one 13 year old can be very different from another of the same age.
Murray Katcher, Chair of the American Academy of Paediatrics Committee on Child Safety, has said that "there's no exact height or weight ... (but the authorities) are looking at five feet two inches" as a helpful guideline for parents. So to be on the safe side, any child under that age and/or height, should continue to travel in the back of your car.
In summary then, your car should be fitted with airbags for general safety purposes. But your kids should always be seated according to these guidelines to guarantee they will get no airbag injuries if an accident happens.
