Britax

New Technology: Child Restraint Side Impact Cushions

Side impact crashes pose a serious threat to child safety and therefore make side impact protection a necessity for child seats. Twenty-five percent, 1 in 4 crashes, occur from the side, injuries are more severe in side impact crashes, 30% of fatalities are a result of side impact crashes and vehicle side air curtains are designed to protect adults, not children. (Source: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

As a tech, you know that injuries occur when crash force energy comes in contact with your child. Energy cannot be destroyed; it can only be managed or diverted away from your child. Crash forces originating from a side impact crash have the potential of being more severe because:

• The lack of a “crumple zone” between your child and the vehicle door resulting in direct impact of the oncoming vehicle.
• Contact with any intruding objects such as the car door, glass, metal shards, etc.
• Acceleration of the body as the car comes to a sudden halt; a quick change in speed is what causes injury to the body.
  

Side Impact Cushion Technology is comprised of air-filled, energy-management cushions on either side of the child seat that protect both the child and any adjacent passengers in the event of a side impact crash. The cushions reduce side impact crash energy by 50%.

During a side impact crash, the energy-management cushions compress to absorb the incoming crash forces and safely expel the air through strategically placed vents. In doing so, Side Impact Cushion Technology reduces side impact crash energy by 50 percent by diverting crash forces away from your child. It is important to note that the cushions do NOT deploy upon impact, like vehicle airbags do.

The side impact cushions were developed to minimize injury to the child sitting in the seat by reducing the impact of incoming crash force. Beyond that, however, these cushions have an added benefit. They provide the seat’s exterior with an energy-managing surface which serves to reduce head acceleration of an adjacent passenger as well.

Currently, these cushions are found on the Britax Advocate CS convertible car seat.

Submitted by: Sarah Tilton, CPS Advocate, Britax Child Safety (Charlotte, NC)