Air bags have been blamed for the deaths of 38 children, none older than nine, and 24 adults. Most of these deaths were because the victims were not wearing or improperly using seat belts, or sitting too close to the air bag. Most of the children who were killed were infants sitting in rear-facing car seats positioned in the front seat. Safety officials say children under 12 years of age should never be allowed to sit in the front seat of a vehicle. Smaller adults, especially women, and small children are more vulnerable to the impact when the air bags inflate.
Pregnant women are also more at risk.
Edwards added that if a child has outgrown a child safety seat, they need to be in a booster seat. But, the real issue according to Edwards is the proper use of restraints and putting kids in the back seat. It s really the safest place to be not only for children but for adults as well. Education is the solution. Through a campaign sponsored by the Chrysler Corp., AAA, American Academy of Pediatrics and an air bag manufacturer, Morton Industries, a new safety campaign called, The ABC s of Air Bag Safety, is now available.