Evaluation of the Effects of Airbag and Seat Belt Use on the Severity of the Injury in Traffic Accidents

Özet

Introduction: According to the report of the World Health Organization on the prevention of road traffic injuries, road traffic accidents result in the death of approximately 1.25 million people and injury or disability of 20 to 50 million people every year. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of seat belt and airbag use on the severity of the injury in motor vehicle accidents. Methods: In this study, 274 patients involved in motor vehicle accidents were examined. The medical records of the patients were screened for responses to routine questions that aimed to predict the severity of the injury, such as whether the patient was wearing a seat belt if the airbag deployed and the approximate speed of the vehicle at the time of the accident. Results: It was determined that the severity of the injury and the hospitalization rate were lower in the restrained and airbag- deployed patient group. In unrestrained patients, airbag deployment alone did not reduce the severity of the injury. Discussion and Conclusion: Seat belt use and the airbag deployment reduce the severity of the injury and the hospitaliza- tion rate more than airbag deployment alone. Encouraging the wearing of seat belts is significant to decrease the severity of the injury and ensure that the airbag is activated during accidents.