Since the early 1990's, the automotive industry was given the task of outfitting all new cars with airbag technology. Airbags became standard equipment during the model year of 1999 for all new cars that were made. Airbags were felt to provide safety from any severe injury for all those who were riding in the front seat of cars. Though injuries still do occur, ejection from automobiles also decreased by a significant margin.
While reading the "Eye on Vision," blog on airbags at
http://blogs.webmd.com/eye-on-vision/2008/03/airbags-save-lives-may-sacrifice.html,
I found it interesting that airbags, though helpful in the decrease of fatalities as a result of automobile accidents, have increased the number of eye injuries.
Injuries are caused when the inflated bag comes at you, strikes you in the face and turns your head to the left or right. Or, the when the airbag deploys, it pushes your face back toward the headrest.
Wouldn’t you think that in these two instances, that in some way your eyes, which are not protected, could be in danger? According to the following information that I extracted from the posting, they are.
Five percent of motor vehicle accident victim injuries involve eye trauma caused by facial contact with a deploying airbag. With sudden deceleration the body is moving forward to meet the exploding airbag. That's right, exploding! The airbag inflates in less than 50 milliseconds - faster than a blink. The expanding gas used for rapid airbag inflation is generated by a small controlled explosion inside the dashboard. Wearing a seat belt restrains you and lessens the impact of the airbag which deploys from causing extensive injury to your vision, but vision injuries still occur.
As an additional resource, information was also obtained from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety at:
http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/airbags.html
So, first drive carefully and defensively. Secondly, always wear your seat belt.
The low vision aids industry leader for over 31 years Independent Living Aids provides the tools and technology to enhance, enrich and support active lifestyles. Visit the ILA website, www.independentliving.com for a comprehensive and constantly updated selection of products for the blind and visually impaired including, canes magnifiers talking watches talking clocks large print books Zoomtext magnification software Braille text talking cooking gadgets
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