Text of Booster Seat Use in Ontario Piotr Wilk Ashley Hartford Middlesex-London Health Unit pwilk3@uwo.ca
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Booster Seat Use in Ontario Piotr Wilk Ashley Hartford Middlesex-London Health Unit pwilk3@uwo.ca
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Child Safety Problem: Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of serious injury and death among Canadian children Solution: Risk of serious injury or death is significantly reduced when children travel in a restraining device that is size- and age-appropriate
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Booster Seats Problem: Children older than 4 years of age are often: prematurely moved into adult seat belts susceptible to serious life-threatening injuries caused by seat belts during motor vehicle collisions seat belt syndrome Solution: Booster seats use is an effective injury prevention strategy for children 4 to 7 years of age
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Ontarios Booster Seat Law Objective: To enhance the safety of children and youth on Ontarios roads Regulations: A child must be properly restrained in a booster seat when riding in a motor vehicle until 1 of the following 3 criteria is exceeded: child weighs more than 36 kg (80 pounds) child is taller than 145 cm (49) child is 8 years of age Implemented: September 1, 2005
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Objectives Overall objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Ontarios booster seat law Specific objective: To provide a comparison over time regarding the % of children 4 to 7 years of age who are reported to use a booster seat in Ontario Past research: Parents rely on laws as guidelines on how to properly restrain their children
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Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System RRFSS is a telephone survey: gather surveillance data monitor public opinion on public health issues collect data on emerging issues important to public health in Ontario Participants: Over 20 health units in Ontario Website: www.rrfss.ca
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Measurement Survey question: Which of the following best describes how your child usually travels in a car or other vehicle: with no seat belt and not in a car seat with a seat belt only with a booster seat and seat belt in a car seat with harness straps
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Sample Population: Parent/caregiver of a child 4 to 7 years of age Sampling: Randomly selected from a list of households with a telephone Time: January 2005 to December 2007 (monthly)
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Change in Booster Seat Usage
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Change in Usage by Age
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Change in Usage by Time
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Change by Type of Restraint
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Conclusions Overall increase in booster seat use after September 1, 2005 Increase in booster seat usage is related to childs age: only among 6 and 7 year olds Significant proportion of 4 to 7 year olds are still not using booster seats: prolonged car sear usage among 4-6 year olds premature graduation to sit belts among 7 year olds
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Implications Need to improve community awareness regarding the health risks of not using booster seats among 4 to 7 year olds Booster seat campaigns should clearly state weight, height, and age requirements