• 04
• Aug
• 2007
• 

New level of child car seat protection soon to be available

It would seem that not all car seats offer the same level of protection we dearly seek for our children.

First Seat, a Monterey (US) based car seat manufacturer has been developing a revolutionary Child Car Seat that offers unparalleled safety to the child during side impacts.

If you take a look at the video on First Seats website you’ll see a very graphic demonstration of the current level of side impact protection and the protection offered by First Seats new product.

Here is the press release from First Seat – we’ll be keeping a close eye on developments and report back as soon as there is more news.

MONTEREY, C.A., Jan. 31 / PRNewswire/ — First Seat, LLC announces the design of a passive child car-seat safety system that will significantly raise the standards for child car seats. First Seat applies innovative technology to more effectively deal with frontal impact, and focuses on side impact safety, for which there currently is no standard.

“Side impact is potentially the most dangerous kind of collision,” said Shreve Archer, M.D., who designed the seat. “And our seat is designed based on experience from the most extreme accident environment: Formula One racing. The application of this technology to the protection of children will set new standards for the industry.”

Recent medical research has shown conclusively that the brain is injured by rapid rotational movements rather than by direct impact. Specifically, side-to-side rotation of the head causes internal ‘stretching’ forces on the brain. The axon (output wires of the nerves) are stretched, causing them to immediately stop functioning.

The First Seat design limits rotational movements of the head, especially in side impact. This is accomplished by enclosing the child in a rigid shell while protecting the head with viscoelastic foam—the same type used in Formula One racecars. In addition, the child’s shoulders are supported, minimizing neck strain.

It is well accepted that controlling the child’s forward movement reduces the severity of frontal impact. “While all existing seats rely on ‘belt stretch’ to decelerate the child, we utilize patented technology that provides for a seat that glides forward with gradual deceleration. The child is held firmly in the seat instead of being allowed to move forward out of the seat and be caught by the belts,” said Darryl Donovan, President of First Seat, LLC.

“The combination of these two integrated designs creates a comprehensive safety system for children, and sets a new standard in child-car seat safety design,” Donovan said.

First Seat is in the final stages of product testing. “We have found that First Seat keeps children significantly safer in the event of side impact, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer this level of safety to parents and consumers,” said Birgit Garcia, Chairman of First Seat, LLC.

About First Seat

First Seat, LLC is the manufacturer of First Seat, a child car-seat safety system manufacturer. Founded in 2003, First Seat, LLC is headquartered in Monterey, CA.