Why child car seats are so important
An infant’s injury sparks an international discussion about treatment, safety, and education
A young family was out for a drive. The father was behind the wheel and the mother was in the front passenger seat with their one-year-old in her arms. When their car collided with a stationary vehicle, the child slipped from her hands and slammed into the dashboard.
They rushed to the hospital, where the child was attended to by an emergency medicine resident known as Prasannah on Figure 1, healthcare’s case-sharing app. The child showed no signs of an intracranial bleed, and a bedside ultrasound ruled out an abdominal injury. Prasannah turned her attention to the child’s swollen left thigh. An x-ray revealed an underlying fracture of the femur (thigh bone).
She shared the case on Figure 1 and quizzed the global medical community how they would manage the patient.
An orthopedic surgeon suggested a closed reduction (a technique of setting the bone without surgery) and a hip spica (a cast that covers the entire lower body). From there, the discussion moved onto the importance of car seats and cultural norms around the world.
“That mother may have no idea how blessed she is to still be holding her child,” said a licensed practical nurse from Missouri. “My only experience with this scenario didn’t leave the scene alive. Education, education, education.”
“Some parents just don’t get it,” replied a family doctor. “I know a mum who despite science & medical degrees (Yes, TWO, including physics) would hold an upset baby in the front seat. Discussions of the reality of physics were blithely ignored. We prayed, but her kids were very lucky.… A crying baby in back is annoying but an injured one far worse. Most just don’t understand the physics: like trying to hold onto a fridge in even a small accident.”
The emergency medicine resident who posted the case practices in Malaysia, and she explained that what is second nature in some countries may not be so in others.
“Unfortunately baby car seat laws are not enforced in this country,” Prassanah wrote. “It’s not about social strata/financial background/education level per se but country regulations. My parents were college graduates but never bought baby car seats. I remember sitting on my mother’s lap in the car as a toddler in the early ’90s. It was the same in other families. Community awareness and law enforcement is crucial.”
The discussion continues on Figure 1, and we invite all healthcare professionals to join in here.
