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Seat Belts |
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Seat Belts
Children are often moved too soon from their car seat or booster seat to an adult belt. Children are not likely to correctly fit an adult seat belt until somewhere between 8 and 12 years of age.
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An artist's impression of what happens to a small child wearing only a seat belt. Source: www.cbc.ca |
A recent study from Starship Childrens' Hospital supports international science and specifically showed that for children between 4 and 12 years of age,
* All 4 and 5 year olds required a car seat or booster seat
* 90% of 6,7, and 8 year olds required booster seats
* 50% of 9 and 10 year olds
* 10% of 11 and 12 year olds still required booster seats .
Submaring and children too small for adult belts
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"Despite decades of research that demonstrate that four to eight year old children are not adequately protected by adult seat belts" laws permit children to legally use seat belts too soon. BCSI |
Children who are too small for a seat belt are often uncomfortable and are more likely than older children to use the seat belt incorrectly. This may mean that the child places the sash of the belt under their arm, or behind their back, rendering the seat belt useless.
Arrows indicate errors. This child, while the legal age in NZ to wear a seat belt only is too small for the adult belt. Her legs are not long enough to sit over the seat edge. The lap belt and sash portion sits incorrectly over her body, and the buckle/latch may cause serious internal injuries during an accident.
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Because the child is uncomfortable they are likely to place the seat belt behind their back (left) or under their arm (right). Since seat belts are not meant to perform like this, the injuries your child may suffer in an accident could be life threatening.
Follow the 5 Step test to see if your child is big enough to use an adult belt alone. If not, continue using a booster seat and/or child safety harness.
Benefits of booster seat use include:
A correctly fitting seat belt, where the lap portion rests low down over the child's lap. The sash portion over their chest, but away from their neck.
Side impact protection. The wings of a full back booster offers the child side impact protection that an adult belt alone is not able to offer. This also assists children when sleeping in the car.
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Submaring and children too small for an adult belt
When a small, undersized child, (that is a child who is unable to pass the 5 step test) is placed into an adult belt there are a number of risks that the child is exposed to. Such risks include injuries to the neck, spine and internal organs, as well as injuries caused when the child slides out the lap portion of the seat belt in an accident. The effect of this is known as "submarining" and is shown in the image below.
A child will slouch in an adult belt simply because they cannot comfortably sit with their back and bottom against the back of the vehicle seat, nor can they sit with their knees comfortably bent over the seat edge.
When a child is uncomfortable, they will find ways to make sure they are comfortable, therefore this means they will pull their lower body forward to rest their knees on the seat edge, leaving a gap behind their back. Following on from this, the child is then likely to place the sash portion of their seat belt behind their neck, since their shoulders are now lower down in the seat shown in figure 2a/b.
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The lap belt is forced into the body during an accident, and acts like a pair of scissors. The passenger in this position is almost cut into two. The sash portion helps to keep the passengers body upright, and from coming so far forward (when worn correctly).
A lap only belt worn by a passenger may subject them to grave danger. The lap belt does not offer any protection to the upper body which makes up 50% (percent) of an adults total mass. For a child over 5 years, this figure is almost 63% (percent) and remains more than 50% (percent) until adolescence.
BCSI
Roll mouse over image to see comparison between child aged 5 and 9 to an adult body.
To solve this your child needs to remain in their car seat (convertible or booster with harness), until it is outgrown. Especially if the child is under 4 years of age. Alternatively a child booster with a child harness is suitable, or a booster seat with seat belt height adjuster (for children over 5 years of age, and over 18kgs, with a half booster seat).
A child needs to be able to correctly fit an adult belt before it is used. The Five Step Test below advises how you can test your child for adult seat belt compatibility.
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Is your child big enough for an adult seat belt?
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5 Step Test Adopted SafetyBeltSafe USA, and promoted by Elizabeth Segedin of Starship Childrens' Hospital, New Zealand. |
The 5 step test will tell if your child is big enough for the adult belt. |
1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat? |
If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to make both the shoulder belt and the lap belt fit right for the best crash protection.Your child will be more comfortable, too! |
Since all vehicle seats differ, this may need to be tested more than once. If one car passes and the other doesn't the child will need a half booster at the least for the other car.
Adapted from the "5 step test" - www.carseat.org, and promoted by Elizabeth Segedin of Starship Childrens' Hospital, New Zealand.
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If your child is too big for their booster seat, but still have trouble getting a correct fit from the adult belt, the Seat Belt Height Adjuster from AutoSafe Products might be the answer for you.
It is suitable for children 5 years and over, weighing more than 18kgs. NZCR does not recommend its use until after your child has outgrown their full-back booster seat.
It can be used with a half booster, or on its own and it works by bringing the sash position of the seat belt to the child's shoulder, reducing discomfort caused when the belt rubs on the child's neck. This eliminates the possibility that the child may placed the belt under their arm, or behind their shoulder.
It can be used with a half booster, or on its own. It can be adjusted to suit children of various heights and works in conjunction with an adult seat belt.
A unique fit every time
RRP $29.99