CHILD SEAT AIRBAGS ARE WORLD FIRST

The world’ sfirst child car seat with built- in airbags is being launched in Britain.

It detects a collision in less than a blink of an eye – protecting toddlers in the same way as adults are protected by air bags built into modern cars.

Bags in the shoulder pads of the harness instantly inflate then automatically deflate one second after impact.

These at which can be used facing forward or backward can also be used in the front passenger seat, the manufacturer has said.

The £550 device more than halves jerking forces on the neck and head compared to other forwardfacing car seats.

In a front al collision children in for ward- facing seatsare at risk of severe spinal and neck injuries or traumatic‘ chin-to-chest’ strikes.

It is suitable for children from four months to four years, say the manufacturers.

Maxi-Cosi’ s new‘ Air Technology’ s eat use san acceleration sensor and trigger installed in the back that sets off a CO 2 air cartridge, which inflates a pair of small airbags around the child’s shoulder and chest area.

Andrew Ratcliffe, managing director of Maxi- Cosi, said: “Cars are designed to transport adults and while they did get safe rover the decades, child safety is mostly depending on car seat legislation and experts.

“Real innovations need to come from our industry.

“A few years ago, we investigated if and how airbagscould better protect a child’ s head and neck in forward- facing car seats.”

Last year ,69 children were killed in road accidents in Britain – with a further 156 seriously injured.

Mr Ratcliff es aid the deployment and evolution of car seats play an important role in the reduction of these numbers.