Prevention is Possible: Prevention is Possible: How Head Restraints How Head Restraints

Can Prevent Whiplash Can Prevent Whiplash InjuriesInjuries

Funded by theAUTO21 Network of Centers of Excellence

Who, what, when, why & how?

Researchers:

D. Romilly (Pr. Lead – UBC, Mech. Eng.) M. White (UBC, Fam. Med. – CIRPD) E. Desirapriya (UBC Ped. BCIRPU) P. Lawrence (UBC, Elec. & Com. Eng.) J.S. Blouin (UBC, Hum. Kinetics) G. Siegmund (UBC, Hum. Kin. – MEA) A. Snowdon (U Windsor – Business)

Sponsors:

6 UBC + 1 U Windsor Researchers + Sponsors

AUTO 21 - Network of Centres of Excellence

for Canada

R&D for Vehicle for 21st Century:

Health, Safety and Injury Prevention Societal Issues & Future Automobile Materials and Manufacturing Powertrains, Fuels and Emissions Design Processes Intelligent Systems and Sensors

200 researchers at 45 universities with over 150 industry and government partners

The Woodbridge GroupMEA Forensic Engineers

Who, what, when, why & how?

AUTO 21 Project A402:

Prevention: Reducing Occupant Injury in Rear End Collisions

Started: April 2009

Ending: March 2011 - ?

(possible 1 yr renewal)

Prevention: Developing Strategies for Improved Head

Restraint Use

Development of an Automatic Head Restraint Positioning

System – Future Vehicles

Development of Seat Whiplash Mitigation

Systems – Future Vehicles

Who, what, when, why & how? Typical seat:

Head restraint: (fixed or manually adjustable – limited movement)

Seat back: (static design for the average person)

Future seat:

Seat base: (not designed as a

safety component)

Head restraint: (actively adjusts to the occupant )

Seat back: (adaptive design adjusts to both occupant & impact)

Seat base: (energy absorbing to reduce injury risk)

Current fleet (here now!) Future fleet (when?)

Who, what, when, why & how? AUTO 21 Project A402:Prevention: Developing Strategies for Improved Head Restraint Use

Goal: Prevention is possible!

Increase proper HR use!

Methods:

1) Increase awareness through intervention programs

2) Increase number of “good” vehicles in fleet

3) Assess HR use in BC and effectiveness of programs

“Whiplash Campaign”

Advisory Committee

Who, what, when, why & how? Current Initiatives: 1) Focus groups:

Fleet Manager & OH&S

2) Advisory steering committee:

Fleet Manger, OH&S, Health Professionals

3) Web Portal & Resource dev.: www.whiplashprevention.org

4) Observational studies

(BC public & stakeholder sites)

5) Other dissemination efforts

(seminars, presentations, etc.)

“Whiplash Campaign”

Advisory Committee

Why? Consider the costs! In Canada whiplash injuries account for In Canada whiplash injuries account for

over 2 million insurance claims each yearover 2 million insurance claims each year

In British Columbia alone, the economic costs In British Columbia alone, the economic costs exceed C$ 600 million/year (ICBC)exceed C$ 600 million/year (ICBC)

Whiplash injuries account for more than 70%Whiplash injuries account for more than 70% of all bodily injury claims ( of all bodily injury claims (Navan et alNavan et al., 2000). ., 2000).

Cost is in terms ofCost is in terms of lost work productivitylost work productivity medical caremedical care disabilitydisability sick leavesick leave litigationlitigation

What is the problem?

Correct head restraint position (14%)Incorrect

head restraint position (86%)

Females23%

Males7%

Head restraint position statistics

in Canada

Source: IBC (2002)

What is the Problem?

Proper head restraint positioning statistics across Canada

NS 12%

BC18% AB

16%

ON13%

NB 7%

PEI8%

NL 15%

When does whiplash occur?

For many vehicle types currently on our roads, this injury can occur at impact speeds as low as 8 km/h

(i.e. about 5 mph)

Rear - end collision

Side - impact collision

How does whiplash occur?1. Normal position 2. Spine straightens

3. Head extension 4. Rebound

Is prevention possible?

Yes! Yes!

Serious injuries can Serious injuries can be preventedbe prevented

Is prevention possible?

Studies have shown that properly adjusted “good” rated head restraints can reduce serious neck injuries by 35%

How can whiplash be prevented?

Raise the head restraint (HR) so that the center Raise the head restraint (HR) so that the center of the head restraint is slightly above the top of of the head restraint is slightly above the top of the earthe ear

The head restraint should be The head restraint should be 2 - 8 centimeters from 2 - 8 centimeters from

the back of your headthe back of your head

When adjusted properly the head restraint can When adjusted properly the head restraint can be very effective in preventing injuriesbe very effective in preventing injuries

How can whiplash be prevented?

Better position!

Too low & too far away!

How can whiplash be prevented?

http://www.ibc.ca/en/BeSmartBeSafe/Video/index.asp

Resting your head isn’t the same as restraining it!

This part of the vehicle is for resting. This isn’t.

Strategies

Literature review & identification of credible web resources

Planning of a web portal www.whiplashprevention.org

Initial Focus group - Fleet Managers & Occupational Health & Safety

Establishment of advisory steering committees

Develop and pilot test targeted surveys Create meaningful educational resourcesU Tube video clips for secondary/ post secondary Create social media communication plan

What has been done to-date?

1. Completion of literature review and book

- Head Restraints and Whiplash: The Past, Present and

Future

2. Development of credible content

3. Initial focus group & fleet managers survey

4. Beta version of web portal: www.whiplashprevention.org

5. BC Fleet Manager Presentation (June 18, 2010)

6. International Cochrane Systematic Review (Protocol stage)

7. Establishment of Advisory Steering Committee (July 2010)

8. Road-side observational survey (on-going)

www.whiplashprevention.org

Future work

1. Pilot-testing head restraint prevalence surveillance

system at organizations with large passenger car

fleets in BC

2. To conduct intervention programs at different

organizations

3. Completion of International Cochrane Systematic

Review

The goalChange in current practiceChange in current practice

Buy or lease safer vehiclesBuy or lease safer vehicles

Adjust head restraint properly for maximum protectionAdjust head restraint properly for maximum protection

Implement and sustain educational programs and policies Implement and sustain educational programs and policies to improve safety behaviourto improve safety behaviour

Social marketing initial roll out in BC

Our goal

Refining web-based tool

Users select make, model, type, year Head restraint rating Overall safety rating Green ratings Cost Selection of better alternatives Best across all categories

Your inputs, ideas & participation in the project activities are welcome!

Thank you for your participation!

Prevention is possible!

Take action today

to save lives

&

to reduce cost!

Take home message

Advisory Steering Committee Organizational Partners

Air Canada BC Hydro BC Automobile Association Burnaby City Hall Canadian Institute for the Relief of Pain and Disability Health Employers Association of BC Insurance Corporation  of BC Massage Therapists Association of BC MEA Forensics New Car Dealers of BC Physiotherapy Association of BC Terasen Gas

Acknowledgements

AUTO21 Biomechanical Research & Testing, LLC  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Thatcham Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) Insurance Bureau of Canada. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Canadian Institute for the Relief of Pain and Disability BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit UBC Departments of Family Practice, Pediatrics &

Mechanical Engineering