Keep Your Child Safe From Airbag Injuries In Your Car July 15, 2010

Though automobile airbags are wonderful safety devices for adult drivers and passengers, they can injure and even kill children. Airbags deploy with powerful force because they must be available to protect passengers within a fraction of a second of impact.

That quickness that makes them so effective in protecting adults is the precise feature that makes them dangerous to children. The impact of the airbag hitting a child can cause severe injuries and even death.

What can you do to protect your child from an airbag injury?

Children 12 and under should always ride in the back seat (weight is the most important factor but the age of 12 is a general guideline – therefore a 13-year-old who is lightweight should still ride in the back seat).

Children 12 and under should always be secured with the safety device most appropriate for their age and weight. See this Florida child injury lawyer blog for guidelines on which devices are appropriate for which children.

Ensure that safety seats and booster seats are properly installed by reading the directions and following them. Every seat is different. Do not assume that you know how to install your current seat because you have installed one previously.

Ensure that safety seats, booster seats and seat belts fit properly