| Roses are red, Violets are blue. Seat belts a must, when DRIVING FOR TWO! |
| “Lap belts, as well as the lap portion of a lap-shoulder belt combination, should be placed low, across the hips and over the upper thighs. The belt must lie snugly over the pelvis, one of the stronger bones of the body. Never place the lap belt over the abdomen. Adjust the shoulder belt for a snug fit, placing it center of your chest between the breasts. If it cuts across your neck, reposition your car seat for a better fit.” |
| TOPICS |
| What can you do after an accident? Helpful advice!! Noted APA members |
| <> Positioning the Lap and Shoulder Belt |
| The main source of risk is proximity; an air bag needs space to inflate. So move your seat rearward and tilt your seat back until you are at least 10 inches (measured from the center of the steering wheel to your breastbone) from the air bag cover. But be sure you can still maintain full control of your vehicle. (Passengers also need to sit at least 10 inches back from the air bag). And don't forget to wear your seat belt, and remove any excess slack in the belt. You may also want to check your owner’s manual or ask your auto dealer for any special information on the air bags in your car or truck. You can also call the NHTSA Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or see the air bag section on the NHTSA web site. (also listed in "LINKS") |
| <> Staying Safe with Air Bags |
 |
 |
| When it’s time for Mom to buckle-up, she should remember the guidelines published by NHTSA: |
| Also, the National Safey Belt Coalition has additional answers to the question: "WHY SAFETY BELTS??!" |
 |
 |
| Roses are red, Violets are blue. Seat belts a must, when DRIVING FOR TWO! |
|
| After An Accident: "RECOVERY" Help is Available |
 |
| At the "National Conference on Medical Indications for Air Bag Disconnection" conducted by the Reagan Institute Department of Emergency Medicine and The National Crash Analysis Center at The George Washington University Medical Center a report regarding pregnancy and air bags was presented. A panel of experts stated, "there is no reason to recommend disconnection of passenger-side air bags in the case of pregnant women. There is a clear concern on the part of the public about the safety of the fetus in the presence of a driver-side air bag. What is clearly known is that the leading cause of fetal death is maternal death. Protection of the pregnant female with proper lap and shoulder restraint is vital. However, pregnancy places the gravid uterus closer to the steering wheel as pregnancy develops. While there is a risk of fetal death from air bag deployment, there is also a clear and well-documented risk of placental abruption and fetal death from low-velocity impact, such as contact with a steering wheel. Based on the current data, the panel recommends that the benefits of air bags outweigh the risks for pregnant women. This recommendation is made with the recommendation that further study be done on the biomechanics of injury to the gravid uterus and the fetus during crashes and air bag deployment. see Complete Report |
 |
 |
| Most people can ride safely with air bags and you can take steps that will eliminate or at least significantly reduce any risk -- without switching them off. (see NHTSA) |
| _________________________________________________ |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| More stuff! |
| © 2003 Safermom.com All Rights Reserved. See Privacy Statement. |
 |
| And always remember our favorite poem: |
| Saf-T-Stork |
| Saf-T-Wise |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|