Faculty Collaboration Database

Motor vehicle crashes associated with alcohol: child passenger injury and restraint use. Am J Prev Med 2011 Mar;40(3):320-3

Date

02/22/2011

Pubmed ID

21335263

DOI

10.1016/j.amepre.2010.11.005

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-79951734638 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   6 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The role of alcohol in fatal motor vehicle crashes involving children has been well established. However, the nonfatal injury burden of alcohol on child passengers has not been comprehensively assessed.

PURPOSE: This study sought to determine injury burden and restraint use in child passengers aged 1-15 years in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study including all people involved in all crashes with an injury or at least $1000 property damage occurring in Wisconsin in 2007 and involving at least one child passenger aged 1-15 years.

RESULTS: A total of 22,464 child passengers were involved in motor vehicle crashes in Wisconsin in 2007; 2.5% (n=570) were in alcohol-related crashes. Child passengers in alcohol-related crashes experienced twice the risk of injury compared to non-alcohol-related crashes (risk ratio [RR]=2.42, 95% CI=2.08, 2.80). Two-vehicle crashes that were alcohol-related were more than two times more likely to result in child injury than those that were not (RR=2.78, 95% CI=2.30, 3.35). In alcohol-related crashes, the risk of injury in children was higher if they were passengers in the alcohol-related vehicle compared to the non-alcohol-related vehicle (RR=1.35, 95% CI=1.01, 1.79). Inappropriate restraint of child passengers was higher in alcohol-related vehicles (34.5% vs 17.1%, p<0.00005), particularly in the group aged 4-7 years (70.8% vs 44.9% inappropriately restrained).

CONCLUSIONS: Motor vehicle crashes resulting from alcohol-related driving significantly increased child passenger injury and were associated with inappropriate child passenger restraint. Several evidence-based policies are recommended to address this public health problem.

Author List

Schlotthauer AE, Guse CE, Brixey S, Corden TE, Hargarten SW, Layde PM

Author

Stephen W. Hargarten MD, MPH Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Accidents, Traffic
Adolescent
Adult
Alcoholic Intoxication
Child
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant Equipment
Male
Retrospective Studies
Seat Belts
Wisconsin
Wounds and Injuries