Kids on laps could become airbags: Doctor

Parents have been warned against driving with their children sitting in the front seat. A senior doctor at the Rashid Hospital told 'Emirates24|7' that the possibilities of fatality among children sitting in the front seat are 90 per cent higher compared to children in the back seat.

In a tragic incident one-and-a-half year old Ahmedi Begum who was sitting in her mother’s lap in the front seat of the car died following anaccident in Palm Jumeirah on Friday.

According to a senior official at the Indian Consulate in Dubai the body of Ahmedi Begum, whose parents are from Hyderabad, India, has been buried in the UAE. The child was born in December 2009.

Dr Abdel Halim Fadl Nasir, Specialist Senior Registrar, Orthotrauma Department, Rashid Hospital, said at least 21 deaths among adults could have been avoided in Dubai alone, if they had bothered to wear seat belts.

Speaking to this website on Tuesday, Nasir said parents carrying children on their laps in the front seat are basically using them are air bags or pillows in case of an accident.

Commenting on the recent death of the baby girl he said. “The baby was just a year-and-a-half old and was seated in the front seat along with the mother. It was an Indian family. The child or the baby sitting in front is usually crushed against the front board by the mother or the father as a result of the impact of the accident,” he said.

According to him in a similar incident last year a baby was crushed by his father to death following an accident in Dubai. "The child was sitting on the father’s lap on the driver’s seat at the time of the impact,” he added.

It is very important for anyone holding a child even in the back seat to  wear a seat belt. “Before people thought it is only important to wear belts while sitting in front. But it is dangerous in the back as well, especially if you are holding a baby. The lightweight of babies make it easier for them to crash hard at the body of the vehicle upon impact,” said Fadhie. It is, therefore, very important to increase awareness, he added.

Accidents have resulted in fatal consequences due to non compliance of seat belt rules. “Only last year we have registered about 21 deaths among adults simply because were not buckled up. There were also about 200 serious injuries," said Fadhie.

According to statistics released by Dubai Police earlier, the number of people fined for not wearing seat belt in 2010 increased by 83 per cent: 78,513, compared with 41,472 the previous year.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.