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Booster Seat Use in San Diego

Learn about the importance of correctly restraining children in booster seats in San Diego, including statistics, laws, and common errors. Get insights from the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency data.

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Booster Seat Use in San Diego

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  1. Booster Seat Use in San Diego Barbara M. Stepanski, MPH Leslie Upledger Ray, MA, MPPA Isaac Cain, BS Louise Nichols David Thompson Cindy Hearrell, RN Roxanne Hoffman, M.Ed Alan Smith, MPH, PhD(C) County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Division of Emergency Medical Services

  2. Background • 80% of child passengers are incorrectly restrained (NHTSA, 1996) • 97% of infants (birth to 1 year old) traveling in safety seats in 1998, an increase of 12% from 1996 • 91% of toddlers (for 1 -4 year olds) are now traveling in safety seats, up 31% from 1996

  3. Background • Booster seat use is low for children who have outgrown their infant/convertible/forward-facing seat (Partners for Child Passenger Safety) • 29% of 3 year olds are inappropriately graduated to a booster seat • 16% of 3 year olds are inappropriately moved to the adult seat belt • 83% of 4-8 year olds are inappropriately moved to the adult seat belt

  4. Background • Child restraint use issues • Wide variety of child safety seats • Child’s age, weight, height, and maturity • Vehicle seat and belt configurations • Recalls • Number of other passengers in vehicle

  5. Background • Most states have primary laws allowing police to stop and ticket drivers for broken taillights or throwing out trash, however only 17 states and DC have primary seat belt laws • California Laws (enforces minimum protection) • Before 1/2002 - Safety seat required for children until 4 years of age and at least 40 pounds • As of 1/2002 - Safety seat required for children until 6 years of age or at least 60 pounds (only need to meet one of these criteria)

  6. Shield Booster Seats

  7. Belt Positioning Boosters

  8. Why is analyzing restraint use among children so important?0-9 YO Cause of Injury Prehospital Statistics • In FY 9900 in San Diego County, 7% of children 0-9 seen by paramedics/EMT’s were due to injuries suffered in a MVC • 43% of 0-4 year olds were NOT restrained in a child seat • Of these 43% (above), 19% were completely unrestrained • 11% of 5-9 year olds were completely unrestrained Note: Chart does not include medical chief complaints. County of San Diego, Health & Human Services Agency EMS Prehospital Data FY 99/00.

  9. Data Source • Buckle Up San Diego/San Diego Safe Kids Coalition infant/child restraint inspection events, 1999 - 2001 • 41 inspection events • 963 seat positions that had a determined seat type • County of San Diego EMS Prehospital Patient Records, FY97/98 • Paramedic/EMT calls in which a patient was transported to a medical facility or refused care. • San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Population Estimates

  10. Methods - Inspections Logistics • Various locations (schools, retail stores, health fairs, etc.) • Weekend and non-school hour times • Volunteers • NHTSA certified technicians and instructors • Each inspection took approximately 30 minutes • Standard data collection tool

  11. Results - Inspection Logistics • 41 inspections • 18 locations • 9 communities (SRAs) • 963 seat positions with determined seat types

  12. Results Types of Child Safety Restraints • Rear-Facing (481/50%) • Infant • Convertible • Forward-Facing (393/41%) • 5-Point Harness • T-Shield • Tray Shield • Toddler/Booster • Integrated Seat • Belt Positioning Boosters (47/5%) • Shield Booster Seats (10/1%) • Vehicle Safety Belts (31/3%) • Other Child Restraint (1/0.1%) (25 seat types were not documented)

  13. Results - Booster Seats • 6% of seats inspected were Booster seats • 82.5% Belt Positioning Boosters • 17.5% Shield Boosters • Inspection Criteria • 3 measures for the Belt Positioning Booster • 7 measures for the Shield Booster

  14. Results –Age of Children in Booster Seats Age Note: There were 19 unknown ages The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency Division of Emergency Medical Services

  15. Results -Age and Weight # of children Age The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency Division of Emergency Medical Services

  16. Results - Inspection Criteria for Belt Positioning Boosters Percent that met criteria The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency Division of Emergency Medical Services

  17. Results - Inspection Criteria for Shield Booster Seats ***No longer recommended, no upper body protection*** Percent that met criteria The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency Division of Emergency Medical Services

  18. Results - Errors • 37% demonstrated at least one error • Most frequent errors • Shield Booster seat • correct use of the locking clip (33.3% correct) and the vehicle belt holding the seat tight, 1- inch test (37.5% correct) • Belt Positioning Booster • correct routing of the vehicle safety belt (82.6% correct) Significant difference in misuse by booster type • 28% for Belt Positioning Booster • 80% for Shield Booster • RR = 2.96

  19. Results • 60% in Shield Boosters and 11% in Belt Positioning Boosters were under 40 lbs • Two children in Shield Booster were only 2 years old • 75% of the children who had their booster seat inspected also had a sibling’s seat inspected, most of whom were younger • 83% of the booster seats inspected were manufactured after 1996

  20. Keep in Mind…. • Participants may be unique • Most came to have younger child’s seat inspected • Lower misuse rate in boosters compared to harness seats • Challenge: getting parents to USE booster seats!

  21. Acknowledgements The investigators would like to thank Buckle Up San Diego San Diego Safe Communities 2000 San Diego Safe Kids Coalition San Diego County Prehospital Agencies, Hospitals, and Paramedics/EMTs For more information please contact: Barbara M. Stepanski, MPH County of San Diego HHSA Division of Emergency Medical Services 6255 Mission Gorge Road San Diego, CA 92120 phone - (619) 285-6429 Barbara.Stephanski@sdcounty.ca.gov

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