An examination of child safety seat use in a military population

Abstract

Motor vehicle injuries are one of the most common causes of preventable childhood injuries and fatalities. Studies show that when properly used, child safety seats reduce serious injury by up to 67% and mortality by as much as 71%. The efficacy of child safety seats may be reduced by improper use. Such misuse has been reported in up to 67% of children. Many studies have demonstrated that misuse of child safety seats results in inadequate protection. This study focused on the prevalence of child safety seat misuse in a military population. We found that more than 84% of child safety seats were used incorrectly. Furthermore, these results were independent of the sponsor's rank, education level, age, and number of children in the family.