PORTLAND, Ore., May 17 (UPI) -- A study of U.S. crash data found that air bags were effective for people of medium stature, but may be harmful for people of short or tall stature.
Body weight was not a contributing factor to injury rates, since many "smart" air bags use body weight to determine how the air bag deploys, according to Dr. Craig Newgard of Oregon Health and Science University, who analyzed crash data for more than 65,000 front-seat occupants.
Newgard's study found that air bags may actually be harmful to people smaller than 4 feet 11 inches and taller than 6 feet 3 inches.
"In this 11-year sample of drivers and front passengers, occupants of small and large stature appeared to be at risk of serious injury from an air bag," Newgard said in a statement.
"These findings suggest that to maximize safety such occupants should not be seated in front of an air bag when traveling in a motor vehicle."
The findings are scheduled to be presented at the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine annual meeting Friday in Chicago.
