Helmet Safety
Helmet Safety
Bicycle Helmets
Unintentional injuries lead to over 42 million emergency department visits each year (36% of all emergency department visits) and are the leading cause of death in children and young adults. Motor vehicle traffic accidents are the leading cause of unintentional injuries (followed closely by firearm injuries and poisonings). Head injuries account for the majority of deaths.
Many unintentional injuries are preventable. Many injuries are a consequence of failure to use, or improper use of safety equipment. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that among the 67.9% of students nationwide who had ridden a bicycle during the 12 months preceding a recent survey, 83.4% had rarely or never worn a bicycle helmet.
In a recent calendar year, an estimated 23,000 children younger than 21 years sustained head injuries (excluding the face) while bicycling.The bicycle helmet is a very effective device that can prevent the occurrence of up to 88% of serious brain injuries. Despite this, most children do not wear a helmet each time they ride a bicycle, and adolescents are particularly resistant to helmet use. Two factors are strongly associated with bicycle helmet use by young children; helmet use by an accompanying parent and a state mandatory helmet use law or local ordinance.
For more information on bicycle helmet selection and use, see the following web pages: