Though it is incorrect to say that whiplash injuries are not caused to those that are wearing a seat belt, it's undeniable that using a seat belt can lessen the seriousness of those injuries. They protect an individual in that, used correctly they will prevent a person from being thrown out of a car in the event of a collision, but they won't prevent whiplash injuries occurring. In some cases, if the seat belt isn't in its proper position, its presence may even add to the volume of injuries sustained, so just belting up is not sufficient, the seat belt must be in the correct position for any particular driver or passenger.
The British Osteopathic Association (BOA) has warned drivers of the injury risk if they not wear their seat belt correctly. The BOA says that while wearing a seat belt is acknowledged as saving lives and is now second nature to the majority of people, what's not as widely recognised is how a person sits in a car and the way that may affect their safety and well being.
The organisation was publicising Back Care Awareness Week and released details showing that a minimum of one in 10 drivers sit too far back in their seat for their seat belt to offer them suitable protection in the case of a crash. Studies have shown that when sitting in a car the seat belt should be positioned over the bones of the pelvis and also on the shoulder to stand the best opportunity of avoiding serious injury.
Those who don't take this advice and, for example, sit too far back, risk suffering a submarine, which occurs when an individual is sitting too far back in their seat and effectively slips under the belt in the event the car is in a collision, which can result in the individual receiving serious injuries.
The BOA also claim that roughly half of all drivers in the UK either sit too far back in their seat or do not have their head close enough to the head restraint, which happens to be another cause for concern, as that runs the risk of the person suffering severe whiplash injuries if there is an accident.
Head restraints work properly only if they are at the right height for that particular person, and so if a collision occurs it will ultimately catch the head and support it, lessening the danger of any soft tissue injury. Therefore, to provide a vehicle occupant the best possible chance of escaping from the crash safely, their head restraint must be as close to the back of the head as possible and also at a suitable height, while their seat belt should be across the hips and pelvis with the shoulder belt over the chest and collarbone.
The BOA research comes as the Association of British Insurers (ABI) demands action to ensure that only genuine claimants receive fair compensation. It says that around 1,200 whiplash claims are now being made daily and it also costs the NHS around 8m every year to heal those affected by such injuries. Three quarters of personal injury claims in the UK are for whiplash injuries, a far higher percentage than elsewhere in Europe. The ABI says it doubts that the UK has the weakest necks on the continent!
The British Osteopathic Association (BOA) has warned drivers of the injury risk if they not wear their seat belt correctly. The BOA says that while wearing a seat belt is acknowledged as saving lives and is now second nature to the majority of people, what's not as widely recognised is how a person sits in a car and the way that may affect their safety and well being.
The organisation was publicising Back Care Awareness Week and released details showing that a minimum of one in 10 drivers sit too far back in their seat for their seat belt to offer them suitable protection in the case of a crash. Studies have shown that when sitting in a car the seat belt should be positioned over the bones of the pelvis and also on the shoulder to stand the best opportunity of avoiding serious injury.
Those who don't take this advice and, for example, sit too far back, risk suffering a submarine, which occurs when an individual is sitting too far back in their seat and effectively slips under the belt in the event the car is in a collision, which can result in the individual receiving serious injuries.
The BOA also claim that roughly half of all drivers in the UK either sit too far back in their seat or do not have their head close enough to the head restraint, which happens to be another cause for concern, as that runs the risk of the person suffering severe whiplash injuries if there is an accident.
Head restraints work properly only if they are at the right height for that particular person, and so if a collision occurs it will ultimately catch the head and support it, lessening the danger of any soft tissue injury. Therefore, to provide a vehicle occupant the best possible chance of escaping from the crash safely, their head restraint must be as close to the back of the head as possible and also at a suitable height, while their seat belt should be across the hips and pelvis with the shoulder belt over the chest and collarbone.
The BOA research comes as the Association of British Insurers (ABI) demands action to ensure that only genuine claimants receive fair compensation. It says that around 1,200 whiplash claims are now being made daily and it also costs the NHS around 8m every year to heal those affected by such injuries. Three quarters of personal injury claims in the UK are for whiplash injuries, a far higher percentage than elsewhere in Europe. The ABI says it doubts that the UK has the weakest necks on the continent!
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