A Stomach Tear in an Auto Accident in a Child

A Stomach Tear in an Auto Accident in a Child

People rely on cars every day to go to school, travel to work, and run errands around town. Every time someone sets foot in a car, he or she is taking on the risk of severe injury or death. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some of the statistics regarding auto accidents include:

• On an annual basis, more than 30,000 people are killed in car accidents in the United States.
• More people suffer from numerous traumatic injuries that require professional medical care.
• Motor vehicle accidents are among the top ten causes of death in the United States.
• Each year, auto accidents result in billions of dollars in medical costs and expenses related to a loss of income.

If children are in the car, they are prone to sustaining serious injuries in a crash. Children are also prone to suffering pedestrian injuries because they often don't realize the dangers of the road. They are smaller and more difficult to see, and they are less able to withstand the forces related to an auto accident.

A Case Report: Stomach Tear in a Child in an Auto Accident

A medical center recently published a case report describing a young child who sustained a severe injury in a car accident. The driver of a vehicle became distracted while driving. The child was sitting in the back seat. The driver of the car collided with an object in front of them, resulting in a serious collision. The driver was wearing his seatbelt, and the airbag deployed, potentially saving his life and preventing a traumatic brain injury. The child was wearing his seatbelt in the back. However, he was too short for the shoulder belt. Therefore, his lower body was retrained, but his upper body flew forward. The difference in forces resulted in a severe abdominal injury. Medical professionals were called to the scene and realized that the child was in excruciating abdominal pain and was developing a large bruise. He was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a tear in his stomach. He was taken to the operating room, and his injuries were emergently repaired. Parents and caregivers should always make sure that their children are wearing the right type of restraints. If their children are too short for the shoulder belt, they should remain in a booster seat until they reach the recommended height, weight, or age.

Watch YouTube Video: Keeping Children Safe in Crashes: Overview. This video teaches parents how to choose the right type of restraint for their child's age and size to prevent serious injuries in a car accident.

Image Attribution: The picture at the top of this article can be seen on pixabay.com. The photo has been reproduced here under the CCo, Creative Commons License.
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