Children in Auto Accidents
Ask our expert how to be prepared and what to do in the event of a crash
About Our Expert
Jennifer Zambo, D.O, is an emergency medicine physician at Lehigh Valley Health Network.
- If I’m in an auto accident with my child in the car, should I call 911 even if she seems okay?
- If the accident is more serious, how should I assess my child’s condition?
- What should I do while waiting for help to arrive?
- How does Lehigh Valley Health Network's emergency department prepare for children injured in car accidents?
- How important are car seats?
Q. If I’m in an auto accident with my child in the car, should I call 911 even if she seems okay?
A. That depends, of course, on the severity of the accident. If you have a fender bender in a parking lot, or are rear-ended at a traffic light, where neither vehicle was going fast, your child is probably okay. That assumes she was properly restrained in her car seat. A child who is not in a car seat can be injured, even in a low-impact accident.
Q. If the accident is more serious, how should I assess my child’s condition?
A. If your child lost consciousness, even briefly, or if she is bleeding or bruised, it’s best to call an ambulance. If she doesn’t appear to be harmed, there is probably no need to call the ambulance. If you are at all concerned, then you should call an ambulance. Otherwise, watch her carefully during the next few days. If things don’t seem right, or she complains of pain, take her to your family doctor or the emergency room for evaluation.
Q. What should I do while waiting for help to arrive?
A. Unless the car is on fire, or there is some other danger, do not move your child. If she has serious head, neck or internal injuries, moving her could make matters worse. Try to stop any bleeding with a clean cloth if you have one. It’s not easy in a situation like this, but it’s important to remain calm enough to soothe and comfort your child.
Q. How does Lehigh Valley Hospital’s Emergency Department prepare for children injured in car accidents?
A. As soon as they arrive with the ambulance, the emergency medical personnel will assess your child’s injuries and begin preliminary treatment. If your child is seriously injured, they notify the hospital to assemble the trauma team. The appropriate specialists will be waiting when the ambulance arrives at the hospital. Your child will be taken directly to the trauma area and checked to determine the extent of her injuries. If needed, she will have X-rays or other imaging. If she needs hospitalization, she will be admitted to our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), the only one in the Lehigh Valley.
Q. How important are car seats?
A. Proper use of car seats usually prevents serious injury for most children involved in auto accidents. Children under 30 pounds should be in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat. Children over 30 pounds should still be placed in the back seat, but they may sit in a front-facing car seat. When your child has outgrown the car seat, use a booster seat so the safety belt is positioned correctly at her shoulder. Because small children can be injured by a deployed airbag, children under age twelve are always safest in the back seat.
This page last updated 1/6/09 02:23 PM
