Survey finds pregnant Coloradans often wear seat belts wrong

by: Brooke Williams

Posted: Aug 30, 2023 / 07:42 PM MDT

Updated: Aug 30, 2023 / 07:42 PM MDT

DENVER (KDVR) — The Colorado Department of Transportation is reminding drivers that keeping kids safe while traveling in a vehicle starts before the baby arrives.

UCHealth Emergency Medical Services and the Hudson Center for Prenatal Vehicle Safety completed 1,712 prenatal seat belt checks and found that only 32% of pregnant drivers and passengers were using seat belts correctly, according to CDOT.

UCHealth said many pregnant people use their seat belts wrong without even knowing it.

Car crashes are a leading cause of fetal injury and death in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. CDOT said if all pregnant drivers and passengers wore their seat belts correctly, fetal loss from car crashes could decline by more than 50%.

UCHealth EMS said mortality is only part of the issue.

“For prenatal patients, motor vehicle crashes lead to higher rates of premature rupture of membranes, placental abruption, premature birth and low birth weight,” UCHealth EMS spokesperson Gregory Colton said.

CDOT provided the following tips for proper seat belt use as recommended by NHTSA and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

CDOT said if you are in a crash when pregnant, you should seek medical attention immediately and notify your parental care provider, even if you do not feel injured.

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