CHI Mercy Health is issuing a strong reminder about the critical importance of seatbelt use, following a recent increase in trauma patients admitted to the emergency room who were not wearing seatbelts at the time of their accidents.
“We are seeing a concerning trend of preventable injuries due to the lack of seatbelt use,” says Alana McClellan, RN, CEN, Supervisor of the Emergency Room at CHI Mercy Health. “Seatbelts are proven to significantly reduce the risk of serious injury and death in vehicle crashes. Why take the chance? Just wear your seatbelt!”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seatbelts reduce serious injuries and deaths by about half. Not wearing a seatbelt dramatically increases the risk of being ejected from a vehicle, leading to severe injuries or fatalities. Furthermore, an unbuckled passenger can become a projectile, endangering other occupants in the vehicle.
Key Seatbelt Safety Tips:
Proper Positioning:
- Shoulder Belt: Should cross the center of the chest with minimal slack and should never be tucked under the arm.
- Lap Belt: Should be positioned low across the hips, never across the stomach.
- Sitting Position: Sit upright with your back against the seat and feet on the floor.
Legal Requirements: In North Dakota, all vehicle occupants are required to wear a seatbelt, regardless of seating position. Law enforcement can pull over vehicles solely for seatbelt violations, which carry a $20 fine.
Back Seat Safety: Buckling up in the back seat is crucial. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 60% of back seat passengers killed in crashes in 2023 were unbuckled.
Child Passenger Safety: Children under 8 years old must be secured in a car or booster seat. Children 8 years or older or at least 4’9″ may use a booster seat or adult seat belt.
Addressing Common Myths:
- Myth: Seatbelts are only necessary for long journeys or high speeds.
- Fact: Accidents can happen at any time and at any speed.
- Myth: Airbags provide enough protection.
- Fact: Airbags are designed to work in conjunction with seatbelts. Without a seatbelt, the risk of serious injury is greatly increased, especially if ejected from the vehicle.
- Myth: Seatbelts can cause injuries in certain types of accidents, or it’s better to be ejected from the vehicle.
- Fact: Research overwhelmingly supports the effectiveness of seatbelts in preventing serious injuries and fatalities. While rare exceptions may occur, the benefits of wearing a seatbelt far outweigh the risks.
“Despite widespread awareness, less than 90% of North Dakotans consistently buckle up,” McClellan stated. “Furthermore, 47% of all fatalities related to motor vehicle crashes involved individuals who were not wearing a seatbelt. Don’t become a statistic. Make the simple choice to buckle up every time you get in a vehicle.”