Safekids Information Centre KidsInfo Bulletin March-April 2010

Author Bauer, Robert; Steiner, Monica
Eurosafe (European Association for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion).
European Child Safety Alliance.
Vienna, Eurosafe: 2009. 40 p.
The 2009 report “Injuries in the EU” has been launched this week by EuroSafe. The report
presents data collected over the years 2005-2007. It also highlights injury data related to
major risk groups and injury causes as identified in the EU-Council recommendation on injury
prevention and safety promotion: children, adolescents, senior citizens, pedestrians/ bicyclists,
sporting activities, consumer products, interpersonal violence and self-harm. Includes the
statements that:
"More than 5 000 children die from injury each year in the EU leaving a legacy of sorrow and
grief to their parents, relatives and friends.
Injury is the leading cause of childhood death in the EU, accounting for 32% of all deaths of
children between 1 and 14 years of age (Figure 2).
Five well known types of accidents – road traffic, drowning, falls (from height), fires and
poisoning - account for almost 60% of all fatal child injuries up to 14 years (Figure 2).
These five main causes are known to be preventable (up to 90%) by appropriate measures,
e.g. child restraint systems, pool fencing, smoke alarms, window guards and child restraint
packaging."
Available at:
\http://osha.europa.eu/en/news/Injuries-in-the-
EuropeanUnion?sourceid=rss&utm_source=home&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rssfeeds
Reference number 9338
PASSENGERS
High back booster seats: in the field and in the laboratory.
2006
Author Bilston, Lynne E.; Brown, Julie
Annual Proceedings/ Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine 2006; 50: 345-59.
Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, UNSW, Randwick NSW, Australia
High back booster (HBB) seat use was studied in the field and in the laboratory. This paper
presents details of a case series of 19 children using HBBs in real world crashes. More than
half were using HBBs when a forward facing restraint would have been more suitable (i.e.
inappropriately), and incorrect use was identified in 3 cases. All serious injury occurred in
children inappropriately or incorrectly using HBBs. Laboratory simulations modelled on real
world cases demonstrate a greater injury potential in misused HBBs than in correctly used
HBBs due to excessive upper body excursion.
Reference number 9349
PASSENGERS - CHILD RESTRAINTS - NZ
Safekids position paper: It’s booster seat time for Kiwi kids: A recommendation for reducing
injury for New Zealand children by increasing booster seat use. (Updated January 2009.)
2009
Author Chambers, Julie
Safekids New Zealand - Tamariki Haumaru o Aotearoa
Auckland, Safekids New Zealand: 2009
This position paper from Safekids NZ advocates for the need for New Zealand Government
regulation to require booster seat use for the many children between the ages of 5 to 15 years