Seat Belts

The car headrest may prevent whiplash injuries or even a broken neck for front seat passengers, but can prove fatal for rear seat passengers. When a person (adult or child) in a rear seat is thrown forward headrests are very likely to catch them on the breastbone (sternum). As well as the crash injury, the sudden deceleration after impact can cause serious lung damage where tearing of the pulmonary vein frequently results in heavy interthoracic (in the thorax) bleeding as well as heart damage. When the heart thuds against the back of the sternum after sudden crash deceleration the result is often serious bruising of the heart muscle and a coronary artery may be ruptured. Other major organ damage is likely. Wearing seat belts in the front seats is widely accepted and has reduced death rate, yet few bother to wear seat belts in the rear.

• Organs can be so badly damaged that they are unavailable for donation. An ever greater tragedy.
  

An unrestrained child in a rear seat is not only highly vulnerable, but also a potential missile within the car moving forward on impact. This momentum gives new meaning to the elephant in the room.