Sunset Chiropractic Clinic

Back Issues

YOUR BEST PROTECTION IN A CAR ACCIDENT

The insurance statistics say that the average person gets in a car accident at least once every five years. How can you protect yourself in the event of this seemingly inevitable occurence?

The headrest of your car is your greatest protection from whiplash in a rear-end collision. If you get hit by the car behind you, the first thing that happens is that your head whips backward. The further your head whips back at the time of impact, the more severe the injury to your neck. This "whiplash" can result in many undesirable and sometimes permanent symptoms-- chronic headaches, neck pain, stiffness, jaw pain, arm numbness, or even paralysis. (Needless to say, anyone with a whiplash injury should get checked by a chiropractor right away!!)

In order to help minimize the potential injuries from a car accident, it is vital that the top of your headrest be at least 1 inch higher than the top of your ear and that the back of your head is 1 inch or closer to the headrest. Make sure all your passengers have their headrests adjusted properly. And make sure that any car you buy has headrests available and adjustable for you and all your passengers (including the back seat). Please get this information out to your friends and loved ones. This simple prevention tip could save them a great deal of suffering.