Boosters and Airbags

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Boosters and Airbags
Prepared by the National Child Passenger Safety
Board May 2007
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Boosters
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Learning Objectives

• At the end of this program you will be able to
• Discuss the effectiveness of belt positioning
  booster (BPB) seats
• Explain the advantages of using different types
  of BPB seats with children of different ages,
  sizes and developmental level
• Identify airbag suppression systems commonly seen
  in family vehicles
• Discuss the NHTSA side airbag recommendations

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Types of Booster Seats

• Belt Positioning
• Backless
• High back

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Types of Booster Seats - continued
?
X

• Shield Boosters
• No longer manufactured
• Although certified for use by children
  weighing 30-40 pounds, it is not recommended as
  best practice using a child restraint with a
  harness.
• Shield booster base can be used as a backless
  booster.
• Shoulder belt adjusters not available on shield
  booster seats.

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Belt Positioning Boosters
High Back
Backless
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BPB Effectiveness

• Belt-positioning booster seats lower the risk of
  injury to children in crashes by 59 percent
  compared to the use of vehicle seat belts alone.
• Proper positioning of the safety belt by booster
  seats virtually eliminates injuries associated
  with injuries to the abdomen and spine.

Source Partners for Child Passenger Safety, July
2004 CPS Issue Report
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Is one safer than the other?

• Both provide protection in a crash
• Both lift the child up so the adult lap-shoulder
  belt fits correctly.

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Backless BPB

• Older children who dont want to be seen using a
  little kids seat
• Narrow base of some may improve access to belt
  buckles if three children are in restraints in
  the back seat.
• Some are adjustable in width.
• Low cost (15-30)
• Compactness is convenient for air travelers to
  pack for use at the end of the flight. NOTE not
  approved for use during the flight.
• Shoulder belt guides may be difficult to use or
  lost.
• Taller children would benefit from a high back
  booster in vehicles without rear seat head
  restraints/support.

Source Safe Ride News, March/April 2006.
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SAMPLE Backless BPB shoulder belt guide
Source Partners for Child Passenger Safety
Educational Illustrations
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High back BPB

• Built-in shoulder belt guides allow proper
  positioning of the belt.
• Some guides dont allow the shoulder belt to
  retract freely. Always check to be sure the belt
  moves freely through the belt path/adjuster.
• Adjustable headrests with side-wings help keep
  sleeping children upright with the shoulder belt
  positioned properly
• ? More expensive than backless BPBs

Source Safe Ride News March/April 2006.
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SAMPLE High back shoulder belt guide
Source Partners for Child Passenger Safety
Educational Illustrations
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Side Impact Crashes

• Research shows a benefit for high-back boosters
  over lap-shoulder belts in side impacts
• Data on backless booster was insufficient to make
  a statement of effectiveness.
• Booster seat backs offer varying degrees of
  rear-impact head/neck protection
• Several HBBs do not allow use if the childs head
  is above the vehicle seat back.

Source Effectiveness of high back and backless
belt positioning booster seats in side impact
Crashes, Partners for Child Passenger Safety,
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia 2006.
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The cup holder

• The latest technology to get kids to want to be
  in boosters.
• Cupholder
• Designs targeting girls or boys

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Weight Limits

• Dont graduate kids too early
• Keep kids in full harness for as long as the
  seat allows
• Weight limits vary
• Usually 30-100 for high back
• Usually 40-100 for backless
• Watch for proper belt path and fit
• Look on labels for specific height and weight
  limits
• Some no longer have height limits

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Lots to choose from!
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Airbags

• Thats a nice bag you have but you need a belt to
  go with it.

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Curtain Side Air Bag
Thorax Side Air Bag
Passenger Side Frontal Air Bag
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Airbag warning labels(on visor and other
locations)
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ACTIVE Airbag Suppression

• Must be done manually (person must do something)
• Manual On/Off switch
• Frontal airbags only
• ON for older kids and adults
• OFF for younger children

For detailed information on the switch and when
to use see the Vehicle Owners Manual
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PASSIVE Airbag suppression

• Front passenger seat
• Turns the frontal and/or side passenger air bag
  off under specific conditions.
• You must read the Owners Manual to determine if
  it is present and how status is indicated

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Meeting FMVSS208 requirements for children
Frontal airbags

• PASSIVE SUPPRESSION Turning off the frontal
  airbag entirely for the front passenger if a
  weight sensor or other type of sensor detects a
  child or child-sized person is in the outboard
  front seat.
• LOW RISK DEPLOY Deploying the frontal airbag in
  a way that's less likely to cause harm to an
  occupant who's sitting out of position in a seat.
  
• An example is to install dual-stage inflators in
  the front-passenger frontal airbag that provide
  for a lower-level airbag deployment when needed.

NOTE Our message is the same CHILDREN 13 YEARS
OLD AND YOUNGER BELONG IN THE BACK SEAT.
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Side Impact Airbags

• Check the vehicle and child restraint
  manufacturers' recommendations for child
  restraint use in that vehicle.

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NHTSA Side Air Bag (SAB) recommendations

• ALL children should use a safety restraint
  appropriate for their age and size (this could be
  a child seat, booster seat or adult safety
  belt). 
• Children aged 13 and younger are safest sitting
  in the rear seat properly restrained. 
• Do not lean or rest against chest (AKA
  thorax)-only or head/chest combination SABs.
  NHTSA has not seen any indication of risks to
  children from current roof-mounted curtain head
  SABs.
• NEVER place a rear-facing infant seat in the
  front seat of a vehicle with an active front
  passenger air bag.

Source http//www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ncap/airbags/page
s/SABFAQs.htm7
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What will they think of next?
Inflatable Safety Belts?
Pedestrian Protection with airbags?
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Not just for cars

• GL 1800 Goldwing

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When in doubt, check it out!
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Take the Quiz
http//www.cpsboard.org/ceus_quiz1.htmquiz