Parents urged to equip their teens with bike helmets

A warning to parents: Teens are at significant risk for head and brain injuries from bike crashes, yet they are least likely to wear a helmet. Already this spring, Harborview Medical Center has seen several severely injured teens and children.

“All it took was one warm, sunny weekend, and we had children being brought to the emergency department for bike crash injuries, mostly to the head,” said Dr. Fred Rivara, UW professor of pediatrics and director of the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center (HIPRC). “From 1996 to 1998, 160 kids were hospitalized here at Harborview for bike-related head injuries. That’s a lot, and these are often very serious injuries, with long-term consequences.”

The HIPRC conducted a region-wide survey last fall and found that teens were only half as likely to wear a helmet as children or adults. In response, the center will be conducting a community-wide campaign this summer targeting adolescents and their parents with a message about the importance of helmets.

“There is some encouraging mews, however,” said Rivara. “In focus groups and interviews, teens tell us that the most significant factor in their decision to wear a helmet is parental influence. So the message is quite clear to parents — Your kids do listen, and what you say is important. They see you as the rule maker. Make sure that wearing a helmet every time is one of those rules.”

As part of the campaign, the HIPRC has a teen comic book and coupons for bike helmets. To request these items, call the Harborview Hotline at (206) 521-1524. ¶