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Adaptive Restraints

Designed for children who:

Child with sensory processing disorder in large medical seat Source: Automotive Safety Program
  • Unable to use conventional harness system
  • Have outgrown conventional car seat and require additional postural support
  • Must lie down
  • Demonstrate severe behavioral challenges, escaping/eloping

Additional Information about Adaptive Restraints

Child with autism in large medical seat Source: Automotive Safety Program
  • Not readily available
  • More expensive than conventional seats
  • Utilize insurance for coverage
  • Orders must go through local durable medical equipment (DME) providers
  • Can take months to acquire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Types of Specialized Restraints

  • Car Beds
  • Jefferson Car Seat
  • Adaptive Restraints for Casts
  • Large Medical Seats
  • Adaptive Booster Seats
  • Adaptive Vests

Car Beds

Angel Ride car bed
Angel Ride up to 9 lbs and up to 21.5 in
Dream Ride car bed
Dream Ride 5-20 lbs and up to 26 in
Hope car bed
Hope 4.5-35 lbs and up to 26 in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • For infants and younger children who must lie down
  • Prone or right-side positioning requires physician’s order
  • All car beds installed lengthwise on vehicle bench seat with child’s head toward center of vehicle

 

Jefferson Car Seat

Jefferson Car Seat
Source: Merritt Manufacturing
  • Rear-Facing Only
  • Designed for children 7.5-40 pounds, 19-37 inches
  • Special yoke harness design for omphaloceles
  • Padding and positioning prevents buckle/harness contact with omphalocele/abdomen

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adaptive Restraints for Casts

Hope Car Bed (if need to lie Down)
Lay Down EZ-ON Vest
Spirit Spica

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Merritt Car Seat
  • Convertible car seat designed for arm and leg casts
  • Rear-facing 5-40 pounds
  • Forward-facing 22-80 pounds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Large Medical Seats

Child sitting in a large medical seat
Large medical seat (Source: Merritt Manufacturing)

Forward-facing only

  • Lower weight 20-35 pounds
  • Upper weight 102-130 pounds
  • 5-point harness restraint

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard and optional accessories to improve positioning:

Large Medical Seat
Source: Inspired by Drive
  • Abductors
  • Seat extenders
  • Lateral supports
  • Head supports

Anti-escape options on some large medical seats

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adaptive Booster Seats

Adaptive booster
Source: Merritt Manufacturing
  • Forward-facing only
  • Lower weight 20-79 pounds
  • Upper weight 108-175 pounds
  • Require lap-and-shoulder belt over child for crash protection
  • 5-point harness or vest for postural support
  • Wedges and abductors for hip and pelvis positioning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adaptive Vests

EZ-ON Vest
Source: Automotive Safety Program
  • Forward-facing only
  • Lower weight 31-81 pounds
  • Upper weight 168-225 pounds
  • Require lap-and-shoulder belt over child for crash protection
  • Vests for postural support
  • Leg straps for hip and pelvis positioning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Car Seat Use After a Crash

  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that car seats be replaced following a moderate or severe crash in order to ensure a continued high level of crash protection for child passengers. Car seats do not automatically need to be replaced following a minor crash.
  • Refer to your specific car seat manual for information

What defines a minor crash?

  • A minor crash is one in which ALL of the following apply:
  • The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site.
  • The vehicle door nearest the car seat was not damaged.
  • None of the passengers in the vehicle sustained any injuries in the crash.
  • If the vehicle has air bags, the air bags did not deploy during the crash; and
  • There is no visible damage to the car seat.
  • NEVER use a car seat that has been involved in a moderate to severe crash.
  • Always follow manufacturer’s instructions.

School Bus Restraints

Source: IMMI
Specialized restraint in school bus seat with torso support and integrated bus seat

Restraint options:

  • Integrated bus seats
  • Conventional restraints
  • Adaptive restraints
    • School bus specific restraints
  • Availability of seat belts on bus affects restraint selection
  • Some restraints attach to school bus seat without seat belt

 

 

 

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