A retrospective review of air bag deaths

Objective: To describe occupant and crash characteristics in the first 27 p ublicly released investigations of air-bag-related fatalities. Methods: A r etrospective review of the first 27 released crash investigations of air-ba g-induced fatalities was conducted. Data were obtained by the National High way Traffic Safety Administration. Results: Three separate groups of occupa nts are described: adult drivers, school-aged children riding in the right front passenger seat, and infants installed into rear-facing infant car sea ts placed into the right front passenger seat. Female drivers were signific antly likely to be short-statured. Male drivers tended to be slumped over t he wheel. Eleven children (100%) were improperly restrained and thrown forw ard by preimpact braking. Adults tended to have serious chest injuries, whi le children tended to have CNS or neck injuries. All three infants had fata l CNS injuries. The average (change in the vehicle's velocity at the moment of impact) was 12 mph and the average bumper crash was 8.8 inches. Conclus ions: Air bags can cause fatal injury to car occupants in low- or moderate- speed crashes. Data suggest that proximity to the air bag at the time of de ployment is the critical risk factor for fatal injury.