The Need For Bicycle Helmets

Background

Communicable diseases, which were the major killers of children earlier in this century, have been largely brought under control by public health measures such as immunization. The major "epidemic" that remains is trauma. Of all types of trauma, injury to the head is the most devastating and has the most long lasting repercussions.

Head injuries account for 43 percent of all deaths to young school-aged children (ages 5-9), far surpassing any other cause. Although advances in trauma care have diminished the lasting effects of many types of childhood trauma, there remains little that can be done to mitigate head injuries once they occur. Unlike a broken leg, a "broken" brain doesn't heal.

Bicycle Injuries in Children

The bicycle is one of the major causes of head injury in children. About 600 bicyclists under the age of 14 die every year nationwide. This toll exceeds the combined death rate from accidental poisoning, falls and firearm injury. These youngsters account for more than half of bicycle-related fatalities.

More than 400,000 children visit hospital emergency rooms nationwide each year for treatment of bicycle-related injuries, which is about 70% of all bicycle-related injuries treated in emergency rooms. Boys are injured twice as often as girls. The majority of bike crashes occur in parks, bike paths, or driveways -- not just on streets. Most do NOT involve motor vehicle collisions.

All of this from playing with what most consider a "toy"!

Prevention of Head Trauma

The average lifetime cost of severe head injury is $4,500,000. Head protection from the impact of hitting the pavement or the hood of a car is the cyclist's best defense against a head injury. While there may be many causes of a bicycle "accident", most are not controllable. Protecting the head with a helmet IS under the control of a cyclist. A helmet is like a safety belt -- put it on, and it's there when needed.

Do Helmets Work?

How Many Children Wear Helmets?

Bicycle helmet use is uncommon in any age group, and lower for children than adults. Nationally, approximately 5 percent of children wear helmets. Adult use, promoted by the more serious cyclists, now stands at approximately 15-20 percent. However, many communities are now adopting mandatory helmet laws leading to a dramatic increase in helmet use in those areas. In Seattle, following an eight-year concerted campaign, bicycle helmet use among children stands at 58 percent -- the highest in a community with no mandatory law. Adult use is 68 percent -- again far exceeding the national average.

How Can You Help?

	Start an education program about the need for and importance of bike helmets in your community, school, and/or neighborhood.
	Order low-cost helmets through a bulk buy program.
	Support bicycle helmet legislation.

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