Adult Safety Belt

1. See Also
   1. Child Safety Seats
2. Correct fitting of adult auto safety belts
   1. Use Child Safety Seat if adult belt does not fit
   2. Indications
      1. Weighs more than 80 pounds (36 kg)
      2. Child standing height over 57 inches (145 cm)
      3. Child Sitting Height over 29 inches (74 cm)
   3. Proper fit
      1. Legs bend over edge of seat
      2. Buttocks firmly placed against seat back
      3. Lap belt fits tightly over upper thighs
      4. Shoulder belt crosses mid-clavicle and mid-Sternum
         1. Never use without Shoulder belt
         2. Risk of child submarining under lap belt
3. Seat Belt Use in Pregnancy
   1. Do not disable air bags for pregnant patients
   2. Seat Belt use is critical
      1. Many pregnant women fail to use Seat Belts
      2. Seat Belts do not increase risk of fetal injury
      3. Relative risk of fetal loss if unbelted: 2.8
   3. Proper 3 point Seat Belt application in pregnancy
      1. Lap belt
         1. Place under pregnant Abdomen
         2. Should fit snugly over thighs
      2. Shoulder harness
         1. Keep Shoulder harness off Uterus
         2. Harness should sit between Breasts
         3. Crosses midline of clavicle
   4. References
      1. Hyde (2003) Obstet Gynecol 102:279-86
4. Seat Belt use protects other occupants in car
   1. In accident Unrestrained Passengers become missiles
   2. Unrestrained Passengers strike belted passengers
   3. Unrestrained Passenger raises risk of death for others
   4. Cummings (2004) JAMA 291:343-9