AIR BAG SAFETY

Study objective: To describe injuries associated with deployment of ai r bag passive-restraint systems in use in the United States. Design: R etrospective review of data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from 1980 to 1994. Participants: Occupan ts of air bag-equipped vehicles who were involved in crashes on US roa ds. Results: Of 618 reported occupant injuries related to air bag depl oyment, an overwhelming majority were classified as minor (96.1%). Mos t occupants sustained abrasions, contusions, and lacerations. The face (42.0%), wrist (16.8%), forearm (16.3%) and chest (9.6%) were the mos t frequently injured body areas. Conclusion: Most injuries related to air bag deployment are minor and must be viewed in the context of the potentially life-threatening injuries they prevent.