Whiplash Injuries In Children

Although whiplash injuries are one of the most common injuries amongst car accident victims, it is generally thought that most of these whiplash injuries occur in adults. Certainly, is fairly uncommon to associate whiplash injuries with children. So can children suffer whiplash injuries and, if so, is there anything you can do to prevent this happening? What action should you take if your child is unlucky enough to suffer such an injury and how can you expect their recovery to progress?

As with adults, a whiplash injury in children occurs when the head and neck are suddenly and forcefully thrown back and forth causing an injury to the soft-tissue and ligaments in the neck. Although the symptoms of a whiplash injury are often not immediately apparent, within a couple of days the victim is usually suffering from neck pain, restricted movement, back pain and headaches. A child, particularly a very small child, may find it difficult to articulate their symptoms therefore it is extremely important that they are closely monitored after a road traffic accident.

It is unclear why there are less reported cases of whiplash injuries in children than in adults. However, it is thought that the reason for this may be that children are less likely to have any pre-existing medical conditions, or previous injuries, which may increase the chances of sustaining a whiplash injury. In addition, children generally have more flexibility and a greater range of movement in their bodies than adults which may mean that they are less susceptible to this type of injury.

If your child has been involved in a car accident you should arrange for them to be seen by your local Accident & Emergency Department, or your GP, as soon as possible after the accident. If a whiplash injury is suspected the medical professional examining your child will advise you on what treatment is necessary, both immediately and in the days and weeks to come. If your child has suffered a moderate or severe whiplash injury it may be necessary for them to undergo a course of physiotherapy.

So is there anything you can do to prevent your child sustaining a whiplash injury if they are involved in a car accident? Every child should be seated in an weight/height appropriate car seat which should be purchased from new and should be fitted correctly. Although most car seats these days are ‘universal’ it is important to ensure that your child’s car seat is suitable for the vehicle in which you intend to use it. Current guidelines suggest that children should be placed in rear facing car seats for as long as their weight/height allows, and it is generally thought that the back seats of the car are safer than the front. If your child is sitting in a booster seat, or if a smaller child is seated in a car seat with a head restraint, it is important that the head restraint is positioned properly. As with adults, the restraint should be as close to the back of the head as possible and should not sit lower than the back of the head.

Unfortunately, no injury – in either children or adults – is completely unpreventable but it is important to take every step possible to ensure that the risk to your child is kept to a minimum. The simplest, most basic measures – such as keeping a safe distance from the car in front when driving and ensuring that your child is seated in an appropriately sized and fitted car seat – can help reduce the risk of an accident and subsequent injuries to your loved ones, and others.

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