Child Passenger Safety Week
This week we observe Child Passenger Safety Week. The relevance of this week goes without saying, as parents keeping our children safe is our number one priority.
Accident Statistics
Car accidents remain one of the leading causes of accidental death in children. The United States Department of Transportation estimates that in 2021, 710 children (under 13) were killed in passenger vehicles and more than 100,000 were injured.
What’s more, in 2021, more than a third (36%) of children (under 13) who died while riding in passenger vehicles were unrestrained.
Reducing Car Crash Deaths in Children
Although the statistics are alarming, there is a silver lining. Compared to 1975, the death toll for children who died as passenger vehicle occupants decreased by 60 percent.
The main reason why fewer children die in car crashes now is due to safety laws that require the use of car seats and booster seats in young children.
When installed correctly, car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury in small children. Studies show that using an age-appropriate car seat may reduce the risk of deadly injury for infants by 71% and 54% for toddlers.
Even though most parents and caregivers now use car seats, there is still an important safety issue; up to 50 percent of the car seats used today are installed incorrectly and are therefore a hazard rather than a lifesaver.
Tips to Help Keep Your Child Safe While in The Car
There are many things we can do to help keep our kids safe while they are riding in the car with us.
- Drive Responsibly. Don’t exceed the speed limit, keep a safe distance between you and other cars, and never drive under the influence
- Have an Expert Examine Your Car Seat. Enlisting the help of a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can help determine if your car seat is appropriate for your child’s needs and that it is installed the right way. Use this simple search tool to locate a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.
- Register Your Car Seat. By registering your car seat when you purchase it, you will receive important safety recall information from the manufacturer.
- Upgrade Your Car Seat. Children grow faster than we think, and you will need to upgrade your car seat to accommodate your growing child. Using a car seat that is too small or too big for your child can increase the risk of injury.
Your Insurance Protects You and Your Child During an Accident
Traffic accidents are unpredictable, and they can happen to anyone regardless of how careful you are on the road.
Luckily, Texas law protects victims in need of emergency medical care. Under the guidelines set by state officials, your insurance provider must pay for your emergency room treatment, even if the ER is considered out-of-network.
Texas law empowers patients to use the prudent layperson standard when deciding if you have a medical emergency or not.
The law states you can receive emergency medical care at the facility of your choice regardless of whether the provider is an in-network or out-of-network facility.
What to Do If Your Child Is in A Car Crash
If you have young children, even a minor traffic accident can cause them severe injury. For this reason, we recommend that even if you don’t see signs of visible trauma, you still bring your child in for an evaluation.
At Prestige ER, we have unique pediatric examining rooms and highly trained pediatric physicians and nurses who will carefully evaluate and determine if your child suffered any injury.
HealthCare.gov recommends that in case of an emergency, you head straight to the closest ER.
You DO NOT need to get prior approval from your health insurance company.
They will cover expenses barring whatever your deductible and coinsurance/copayments are for emergency treatments.
Prestige ER is open and ready to care for you during an emergency in which your health is significantly jeopardized 24/7, we work with all major insurance companies and our Patient Advocate team is available to help you understand your coverage and rights. We will guide and fight for you every step of the way.
They will cover expenses barring whatever your deductible and coinsurance/copayments are for emergency treatments.
Prestige ER is open and ready to care for you during an emergency in which your health is significantly jeopardized 24/7, we work with all major insurance companies and our Patient Advocate team is available to help you understand your coverage and rights. We will guide and fight for you every step of the way. For more information regarding your rights as a patient, view our Insurance Information.
