Second-Generation Airbags Good For Kids, Still OK For Adults

SEATTLE - A study by Harborview Injury and Prevention Center in Seattle found that second-generation airbags still do a good job of protecting older adults.

That was a concern after first-generation airbags were modified to reduce the risk of injury to women and children in a car from a rapidly deploying bag. Second-generation bags deploy at different thresholds, depending on the occupant's weight or position, or they inflate less rapidly.

The study of 128,000 people in more than 53,000 accidents found second-generation airbags were better for children without increasing the risk for adults. The airbags do still pose a danger to children who are 12 or younger so be sure to buckle up your younger kids in the backseat.

The study was supported by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published in the "American Journal of Epidemiology."