Philadelphia, Pa--A study conducted by researchers at The
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has demonstrated that
computer crash simulation software can successfully predict the
likelihood and severity of injuries to children from airbag
activation. Flaura Koplin Winston, M.D., Ph.D., Kristy Arbogast,
Ph.D., and Rajiv Menon, Ph.D., co- authors of a study appearing
in the March 15 issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent
Medicine, used standard, validated crash simulation software, to
evaluate the effect of front passenger airbags on child
passengers- seated in the front seat -in crashes of high and low
severity. Both restrained and unrestrained children were
simulated and the results were compared to children seated in
the rear seat. For front seat passengers, the results confirmed
previously identified risks of airbags to unrestrained children
and demonstrated a substantial risk to restrained children.
"This software is very exciting. Along with determining the
likelihood of injuries, the computer mo