A Virginia mother is sharing a harrowing experience to raise awareness about child safety in vehicles. After a life-threatening car accident involving her 6-year-old daughter, Lily, she hopes to educate other parents about the critical importance of proper seatbelt use.
Lily was recovering from severe injuries in the hospital after a collision while returning home from a county fair with her father. The vehicle struck a tree, and tragically, Lily was not secured in a booster seat because her mother, Jessica Thompson, believed she had outgrown it. In a mistake that is all too common, Lily also placed the shoulder strap behind her back, which drastically increased her risk of injury.
Jessica recounted the dreadful moment she received the news about her daughter’s condition. “It felt like torture. The fear and uncertainty were overwhelming. They told me she had facial and head injuries along with stomach lacerations, and I couldn’t get more information for hours,” she said during an interview with local news.
Doctors informed Jessica that Lily was fortunate to be alive. The impact of the crash caused the seatbelt to slice through her abdomen, leading to severe internal injuries. The surgeon described the extent of damage, indicating that Lily had been essentially “cut in two,” and many of her injuries were not repairable.
Lily’s situation is a classic case of “seatbelt syndrome,” which refers to a specific set of injuries resulting from improper seatbelt use, particularly when the lap belt is the only portion worn. These injuries can include severe spinal, abdominal, and head damage.
Now back at home, Lily is healing but requires a binder to stabilize her abdomen. Jessica is using this experience to advocate for proper understanding of child safety seats and seatbelt usage, emphasizing the need for parents to keep children in booster seats until they are ready.
“A lot of parents think it’s okay to remove their kids from boosters when they don’t fit easily anymore. That’s not true,” Jessica stated. Experts support her warning. According to The Car Seat Lady, harness straps should be adjusted snugly on children, tighter than most parents realize.
Additionally, it’s important for parents to understand when children can transition from car seats to booster seats. “Some car seats are rated for children up to 90 pounds, but that doesn’t mean a child should switch to a booster just because they hit that weight. Height and readiness are also factors,” advises Alisa Baer from The Car Seat Lady.
Jessica also highlighted the dangers of repositioning the shoulder strap. “When the shoulder strap is placed behind the back, it increases the risk of abdominal and spinal injuries in a crash. The lap belt then sits too high, causing serious injury to the abdomen,” she explained.
During Lily’s recovery, Jessica spent countless nights by her daughter’s side, grappling with the guilt of knowing the incident could have been prevented. “Things can change so quickly, and there’s always going to be that feeling of, ‘we should’ve done better.’ This was completely avoidable,” Jessica reflected.
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In conclusion, this mother’s experience serves as a critical reminder of the importance of adhering to proper safety measures for children in vehicles.