Dr. Craig Newgard, of the School of Medicine (Emergency Medicine and Public Health & Preventive Medicine) at Oregon Health and Science University (Portland), has announced the first scientific conclusions of height as a contributing factor in air bag injuries.

Newgard and associates found that people with smaller stature (less then 4 feet, 11 inches) and larger stature (more than 6 feet, 3 inches) are at increased risk from air bag injuries.

In a study conducted with over 65,000 motor vehicle crashes during an eleven-year period (1995 to 2005), Newgard’s team found that from 2.5 to 2.6% of drivers and passengers were seriously injured. Of those seriously injured, Newgard states that taller drivers have a 5% greater risk of serious injury and that shorter people have a 4% increase of having a serious injury.

Although weight was considered in the study, it did not appear to affect the risk of injuries.

To lessen all people’s changes of having a serious injury while driving, it is important to sit as far back from air bags as possible. People should be more than 25 centimeter (9.8 inches) back from the cover of the air bag.

It is also recommended to wear seatbelts and shoulder harnesses, to not lean forward while driving, and to hold the steering wheel from the sides so as to not place arms in front of air bags.

For more information on air bags, go to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration website “Air Bags”.

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