Whiplash

 Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissues of the neck that occurs from a sudden backward jerking of the head.  For many, symptoms of accident injuries might not show up for hours or even days after the mishap.

    During a vehicle accident, "the head suddenly stops, but inside the skull the brain for a split second can keep moving. It shifts inside the skull," said Dr. David Thurman at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

• Someone is hurt in a motor vehicle accident in the United States every six seconds, according to federal safety officials.
• Crashes kill at least 40,000 people each year and leave more than 5 million others injured.
• Deaths have been recorded at speeds as low as 12 mph and injuries even in low speed collisions
• Auto accidents also may leave hidden injuries. 

  Trauma that doesn't necessarily incapacitate you at the time may have long-term effects that you don't see for 10 or 20 or 30 years.

Safety, booster seats save young lives

•  An estimated 15 million U.S. children are riding completely unbuckled, according to the National Safety Council. Among those involved in fatal accidents, 60 percent were not using seat belts or a child safety seat.
• Infants should be in rear-facing car seats, but may be moved to a forward-facing seat after their first birthday
• Children four to eight should ride in booster seats
• Youngsters under the age of 12 should be in the back seat, away from air bags.
• Children who weigh less than 80 pounds and use conventional seat belts are nearly four times more likely to be seriously hurt in a crash than youngsters sitting in safety or booster seats.
• Children who don't fit the seat belt properly can hit their heads on their knees, jerk forward and damage their spines, or slide out of the belt altogether.

Courtesy of 3DScience.com.
 

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