Infant cushion for Axkid ONE, ONE+, ONE 2, ONE 2+, ONE 3 and ONE 3+ Swedish rear facing seat saves a 2-year old life
Accidents are terrible but sometimes unavoidable. Anne in Phoenix was in a horrible accident where her car got completely destroyed. The only uninjured person was her two year old sitting in a Swedish rear facing Brio Zento. Read her story below:
On our way to Phoenix, just a few miles away, my husband (driving our 2002 Odyssey) hit an obstacle in the road. We don't know what it is, but we all felt the bump, then were airborne, and onto a gravel shoulder. We skidded on the gravel. The van hit a barrier (right at the rear driver's side, where my 4 year old daughter was seated.) It then flipped across the highway. My husband was braking the whole way. (He had just had the tires rotated and pressure checked, and the brakes replaced.) It slowed us considerably. We went into a ditch at an angle and became airborne. We went down on the passenger side of the vehicle, nose first, and then flipped over upside down.
My daughters (the 4 year old, almost 5, and her 2 sisters, 6 almost 7 and 2 almost 3) were screaming. This meant they were alive and I was glad. My husband and I were suspended by our (properly worn) seatbelts. I had significant neck pain. My husband was able to exit the vehicle fairly easily, but I was trapped; I had to be extracted with the Jaws of Life (after fending off a bystander who wanted to cut my belt with a pen knife and pull me out, yelling at him, "Do not cut my seatbelt! Wait until the EMTs arrive to hold c-spine! If you want to do something, get me a jacket and treat me for shock!")
My 4 and 6 year olds were harnessed properly in properly installed and used, tethered seats. (The 6 year old is usually boostered, but because it was a late night trip I didn't want to risk her falling asleep and falling out of position.) My 2 year old was rear-facing. The heavy cargo in the van was all packed tightly down in the bottom of the trunk, compartmentalized behind and under the seat as much as possible before we left. My husband and I had our seatbelts and headrests properly fastened and adjusted and were seated in proper position.
My husband has a mild lung contusion and abrasions from his seatbelt and "road burn." I have a lot of stitches in my arm (which dragged along the ground outside the car– the trauma surgeon says that the braking slowed us enough to save me from having it ripped off) and on my face and bruising all over. My 6 year old has minor abrasions (more road burn) and bruises. My 4 year old, with the most severe injuries, suffered a severe cut to her foot (aptly and completely repaired by great surgeons) and a broken leg (remember, she was AT the first point of impact, a side impact.) My 2 year old, who was in the rear-facing seat, was completely unharmed. Not a mark on her. Nothing. Despite the fact that we landed on the side of the car she was on (she was behind me, I was in the second row passenger seat, and the forward-facers were second and third row driver's side.)
Anne's story is good example of just how safe rear facing is. As many know we have been keeping children rear facing in Sweden since 1965. Our strong recommendations is to keep children rear facing until age 4 or longer. Why?
Our real life experiences with rear facing show one thing very clear. It's almost impossible for a rear facing child to die or become seriously injured in a traffic accident regardless of circumstances.
Thanks to Anne for the photos, story and all her hard work in helping others with car seat safety. We hope everyone recover well.
This is a great example of why countries need higher harnessing car seats, with larger shells to fit taller children.
I find it shocking that Australia only require rear facing to 6 months…yep law to 6 months only. A 5 point harness to only 4 years of age, then onto a booster until 7 years.
In NZ there is no law on age, other than an "approved" seat until 5 years of age, and 7 where a seat is available ( this is never enforced). I think RF to 2 years should be universal and harnessing to 5-6 years and booster use to around 10 years of age.
Lets hope changes are made some time soon.
I can not understand why you make advertizing with such stupid crash pictures. Do you really think it is funny for the baby to live after the accident without his parents?
Jens: May I please suggest reading the article one more time. The 2-year old was completely unharmed while rest of passengers were injured. Parents were injured but lived and are recovering well.
Enjoy your weekend
/Håkan
http://www.carseat.se
This is a great example of why countries need higher harnessing car seats, with larger shells to fit taller children.I find it shocking that Australia only require rear facing to 6 months…yep law to 6 months only. A 5 point harness to only 4 years of age, then onto a booster until 7 years.In NZ there is no law on age, other than an "approved" seat until 5 years of age, and 7 where a seat is available ( this is never enforced). I think RF to 2 years should be universal and harnessing to 5-6 years and booster use to around 10 years of age.Lets hope changes are made some time soon.
+1
just stopping by for my second swedish carseat for my youngest child. jens is a bitter troll. i really appreciate your site and your efforts to educate us. thank you so much!
we have drs at one of our hospitals wanting to change the laws on boosters.
Although younger children have to be held in properly fitted restraints, those aged 5 to 7 are required to be similarly protected only if appropriate devices are already in vehicles.
That means children aged 5 and over are allowed to wear ill-fitting adult seatbelts, which the paediatricians say can lead to horrific head, neck or abdominal injuries.
I have learnt about the 5 step test you get your child to do to see if they are readyy to sit in a seat using just the adult seat belt.
1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
my oldest child is 3 and a half . I ltook a photo of her sitting in the front seat with the seatbelt on..I cannot imagine in 18 months time that she would even pass 1 of those let alone 5.
someone did ask if boosters go to 36kgs in NZ why are 8-10 year olds not in boosters..I said because it is not the law. mychildren once they do go into boosters will stay in them unti lthey pass the 5 step test
@ Jens; do you think it is funny for a baby to die? Usually families are larger than just Mom and Dad + baby – grandparents will be very happy if at least their grand child is saved! Nothing more to say than that.
How a parent can think if I die my baby should too.
Obviously Jens hasn't got any child and maybe better if she will not have.
I would drope my life any time to save my baby's and I know there would be all family behind him.
Jasmine:
nice example that we shouldnt buy car seats just to follow the low, just to keep our children as safe as we can. Every child is different and the parent should know what is safe for him and when are they ready to change sitting position.
I live in England and I was shocked that I can not buy rear facing second stage car seat for my baby at any retailer in my area. I will still order one online but I feel sorry about that I can not try to fit the one into our car before I buy it.