A recent investigation has cast a spotlight on the Evenflo Big Kids Booster Seat after shocking side impact crash test footage surfaced, revealing alarming potential injuries. The video, which shows a crash test dummy being violently tossed around within the vehicle during a simulated side-impact collision, has raised serious safety concerns. ProPublica’s inquiry into the booster seat’s testing methods revealed that the criteria for passing these tests are misleading.
In the disturbing footage, the dummy experiences multiple severe injuries, prompting Dr. Max Thompson, a pediatric expert involved in safety standards, to comment on the potential consequences of such incidents. He stated, “This looks extremely concerning, and I can’t fathom how it would perform in a real-world scenario.”
Despite the alarming nature of the test, Evenflo rated the seat as passing. ProPublica points out that the passing criteria are set by Evenflo engineers themselves and do not undergo external verification. The only instances that would lead to a “failure” in testing are if the dummy is ejected from the seat or if the seat itself disintegrates. Eric Dawson, a leading engineer at Evenflo, acknowledged in a previous deposition that the crash behaviors seen could indeed result in “serious injuries.” Another former engineer, Tom Richards, bluntly stated, “We do conduct side-impact tests, but we don’t claim to provide side-impact protection.”
The Evenflo Big Kids Booster Seat is equipped only with a shoulder strap, while the American Academy of Pediatrics advocates for children to remain in full harness car seats until they weigh at least 40 pounds. This particular booster seat was marketed variably for children starting at 30 pounds and sometimes for those over 40 pounds.
In a heartbreaking case, the story of 6-year-old Mia Johnson from New Jersey highlights the dire consequences of using such booster seats. After a car accident in 2016 while she was in an Evenflo booster, she suffered paralysis from the neck down. Her sibling, who was secured in a different car seat, recovered fully. Mia’s father, John Johnson, expressed his regret, stating, “Had I known the real risks, I would’ve kept my kids in a five-point harness for years longer. It’s shocking to learn how misleading the marketing can be.”
For more insights on safety and parenting, visit this other blog post, which delves into related topics. Additionally, if you seek authoritative guidance on this matter, explore this excellent resource on female infertility or check out intracervicalinsemination.com for more information.
In summary, the leaked crash test footage of the Evenflo Big Kids Booster Seat raises critical safety questions regarding its effectiveness in protecting children during side-impact collisions. Experts urge parents to reconsider the use of such booster seats, emphasizing the importance of adhering to safety guidelines.