Side Impact Cushion Technology

What is Side Impact Cushion Technology?

Side Impact Cushion Technology is comprised of air-filled, energy-management cushions on either side of the child seat that reduce side impact crash energy by 50% for the child in the seat and also serve to protect adjacent passengers. Currently these cushions are found on the Britax Advocate CS convertible car seat.

Watch the video below to learn more about side impact crashes and to see Side Impact Cushion Technology in action.

Where is Side Impact Cushion Technology located on the car seat?
The cushions are located on either side of the upper part of the child seat.

Why does the seat need Side Impact Cushion Technology?
Side impact crashes pose a serious threat to child safety and therefore make side impact protection a necessity for child seats. In fact:

• 1 in 4 crashes occur from the side
• Injuries are more severe in side impact crashes
• 30% of fatalities are a result of side impact crashes
• Vehicle side air curtains are designed to protect adults, not children

Source: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

It’s also important to understand that injuries occur when crash force energy comes in contact with your child. Energy cannot be destroyed; it can only be managed or diverted away from your child. Crash forces originating from a side impact crash have the potential of being more severe because:

• The lack of a “crumple zone” between your child and the vehicle door resulting in direct impact of the oncoming vehicle.
• Contact with any intruding objects such as the car door, glass, metal shards, etc.
• Acceleration of the body as the car comes to a sudden halt; a quick change in speed is what causes injury to the body.

How does Side Impact Cushion Technology work?
Side Impact Cushion Technology is comprised of air-filled, energy-management cushions on either side of the child seat. During a side impact crash, the energy-management cushions compress to absorb the incoming crash forces and safely expel the air through strategically placed vents, diverting the crash forces away from your child.

These robust air chambers require up to 10 times more force to compress than competing technologies, which results in the transfer of significantly more crash force energy away from your child. In fact, Side Impact Cushion Technology reduces side impact crash energy by 50%. This is important because the amount of force required to compress the cushions is directly related to the amount of energy diverted away from your child. It is important to note that the cushions do NOT deploy upon impact, like vehicle airbags do.

In addition, Side Impact Cushion Technology is the first and only technology to offer protection by:

• Absorbing side impact crash forces before they reach your child, resulting in fewer head injuries.
  This is important because head injury is the leading cause of death for children in vehicle crashes, and the amount of crash forces reaching the child's head determines the severity of a head injury.

• Providing an energy-absorbing surface area along the full length of the seat, protecting your child's head, neck, and torso.
  This is important because incoming crash forces are not limited to the head area.

• Offering a soft, protective surface for the adjacent passenger in a side impact crash.
  This is important because adjacent passengers are vulnerable to injury from contact with child seats in a side impact crash.

How long has Britax incorporated Side Impact Cushion Technology in their seats?
Side Impact Cushion Technology was designed, developed, and patented by Britax and debuted in May 2009 on the Britax Advocate CS convertible car seat. No other car seat company offers this level of side impact protection technology.

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