THE DISTRUBUTION OF SEAT BELT AND CHILD SEAT USAGE AMONG EDUCATION STAFF OF MEDICAL FACULTY IN EGE UNIVERSITY

Kocak A, Aktas EO, Zeyfeoglu Y.

Symposium of Traffic 2000. Ondokuz Mayıs University & Samsun Head Office of Police, Samsun, 2000.  Summary Book of Symposium.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Traffic accidents are one of the most important problems of our country, Turkey, causing many deaths, injuries and economic loss. Obligation of seat belt exist in our country like many other countries. However, this obligation consist people only sitting in front of the car. What would save the people sitting in the back is unclear. The previous studies showed that the most important trauma affects the people untied. Child board usage is very rare in our country.

There is no company producing child seats and seat belt are designed for adults rather than children. This means, the ones sitting in front of the car will be in save using seat belt during traffic accidents, but their children, who are said to be the most important and lovely members of the family are in danger. We let than die. This can not be accepted.

Materials and Method: The aim of this study is to determine in the frequency of child seat usage in Turkey. This subject was not studied before. For this purpose a high socio-economic and cultural group that the education staff of Ege Medicine Faculty was chosen.

An inquiry with 13 questions was applied to 530 people who were chosen by systematic proposal method. The result were evaluated statistically by SPSS program.

Results: 65 were male, 31 were female. The mean age is 42.3. 91 are married, 3 unmarried, 2 had divorced. 85.4% are living in city center, 14.6 % in small city. Seat belt was always used by 78.1%, while 20.8% used only in long trips and 1% sometimes uses. Mean drive licence time 3.4 years, and active car using time is 3.13 years. 46.9% takes care of safety while buying a car, 30% taken car of luxury and comfort with safety. 59.4% have airbag in their cars. 58 people have 1 child, 35 people have 2 children and 1 people have three children. 30.2% use child seat in the back.

Conclusion: Children must be carried on child seat or booster in the back. Seat belt usage must be obligation for everyone in the car.

Key Words: Child seat, booster, seat belt, traffic accident, forensic automotive.