Headrest facts for kids
A headrest is a part of a chair or car seat that supports your head. It's shaped to help keep your head and neck safe.
Headrests are super important in cars. They help protect people from injuries like whiplash if another car hits them from behind. For over 40 years, safety experts have been studying and improving headrests. This has led to many different types of headrests designed to keep you safe.
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Why Headrests Are Important for Safety
Headrests are also called head restraints. Their main job is to stop your head from snapping backward too much during a rear-end crash. This movement is called hyperextension. If your head moves too far back, it can cause a neck injury called whiplash. A good headrest keeps your head close to it. This helps protect your neck bones (cervical vertebrae) from harm.
Different Types of Headrests
Car manufacturers have developed several kinds of headrests. Each type works a bit differently to keep you safe.
Integrated or Fixed Headrests
An integrated headrest is built right into the car seat. It's part of the seat back itself. You cannot adjust its height or remove it easily. It's a solid part of the seat's design.
Adjustable Headrests
An adjustable headrest can be moved to fit the person sitting in the seat. You can usually move it up or down to match your height. Some adjustable headrests can also tilt forward or backward. This helps you find the most comfortable and safest position.
Active Headrests
An active headrest is a smart safety device. It automatically changes its position during a crash. If a car hits you from behind, the active headrest moves forward. This quickly closes the gap between your head and the headrest. This quick movement helps to reduce the risk of whiplash even more.
See also
In Spanish: Reposacabezas para niños
