Importance of Airbags and Seat Belts in Vacaville

The good news about car safety and injury prevention in Vacaville is that a lot of people understand the message. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that seat belt use has increased from 69% to 85% between 1998 and 2010. Airbags have already prevented 3,000 deaths each and it goes well with seat belts since they provide ever more safety.

Motor vehicle accidents are known for causing whiplash-type injuries on the neck and even on the back, which can cause neck pain or back pain.

How airbags and seat belts protect you in Vacaville

The seat belt is meant to protect the spine from a significant impact that can cause a serious injury. Without a seat belt, a person can possibly become a projectile or sustain forced trauma to the spine.

One of the causes for a spinal injury involves a violent movement that pulls, twists, or causes spinal cord compression from the neck down to the lower spine. Airbags and seat belts can help prevent this type of injury by bracing your body against the seat and cushioning your body from making an impact with the steering wheel or the sides of your car.

Here are some car safety facts for you to know:

• Airbags: This has been proven to prevent serious injuries or even death. However, passenger-side airbags are dangerous for children aged 12 years and below, so it is recommended to have them properly restrained in the back seat instead.
• Seat belts: A statistics report by the NHTSA has shown that seat belts have saved 75,000 lives between 2004 and 2008. Wearing your seat belt can lower your risk of a crash injury by 50%.
• SUV safety: If you have chosen a sport utility vehicle (SUV) because you believe they are safer, then you should know that you still need both airbags and seat belts the same way as you do in a smaller car. The NHTSA have stated that SUVs are more likely to roll over than non-SUVs during an accident.

Spine injuries prevent by airbags and seat belts

Whiplash injuries are easily prevented with the help of airbags and seat belts since they can reduce impact to the spine. A severe impact can easily injure the neck area, mid and lower back. Here are some details about the injuries that airbags and seat belts can prevent during a car accident:

• Neck pain: A whiplash injury to the neck can make symptoms show up right away while there are also instances that it may take hours or days. Neck pain, muscle spasms, or numbness in your arms and shoulders can be a sign of a spinal cord injury in the neck.
• Back pain: Spine injury in the chest area can cause pain affecting your arms, back, and legs. It comes with symptoms like numbness, pain, and weakness. An injury to the middle part of your spine can affect your blood pressure and body temperature regulation.
• Herniated or ruptured disk: This is an injury that affects the lower part of your back and it happens when one of the cushions between the bones in your back bulges or ruptures. It includes symptoms like low back pain, pain or weakness in the legs, and in severe cases, loss of bladder or bowel control.

If you experience neck pain after a car accident or other injury symptoms to your middle or lower back like numbness or weakness, then go see your doctor. Here at Absolute Integrative Physical Medicine, we welcome patients who experience such symptoms and we are happy to get you treated in the soonest possible time. Just dial (707) 474-5688 to setup an appointment today!