Thousands of children end up in the emergency room with bicycle injuries every year. Now, a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes the importance of wearing helmets to prevent some of these injuries. Bicycling is a leading cause of sports-related head injuries in children. The American Academy of Pediatrics report highlights research that helmets significantly reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury while riding a bicycle or participating in other sports. “Bike helmets are extremely effective at protecting against head injuries. Looking at all of this data together, around 90% of brain injuries can be prevented by wearing a helmet. But it’s not just your brain. About 65% of facial injuries can be prevented,” says Dr. Lois Lee from the Department of Emergency Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. Despite the evidence, a study shows that only 42% of children wear a bike helmet at all times. 30% never wear one. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 21 states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring children of a certain age to wear a helmet when riding a bike. dr Lee says, “I would say treat it like a seat belt. So insist on your kid wearing it every time. Also, try to make it fun — you can actually choose the helmet with your kid.” Lee says the helmet should cover the forehead above the eyebrows, the straps should lie flat against the head, with the divider below the ears, and just two Fingers should fit between the chin and the chin strap. Four-year-old Harrison Fleming has been perfecting his two-wheeler all summer. His father Eric makes sure he always wears a helmet. “We’re lucky to live here in a cul-de-sac where there isn’t much traffic, but accidents can always happen,” he says. Eric hopes Harrison will always choose to protect himself. “I hope he wears a helmet his whole life. I don’t think there’s an age limit for safety,” he says. According to the AAP, children, young people and their parents should always wear an appropriate and well-fitting helmet when riding bikes, snow sports, ice skating and horseback riding.
NEW YORK (CBS News) —
Thousands of children end up in the emergency room with bicycle injuries every year. Now, a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes the importance of wearing helmets to prevent some of these injuries.
Bicycling is a leading cause of sports-related head injuries in children. The American Academy of Pediatrics report highlights research that helmets significantly reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury while riding a bicycle or participating in other sports. “Bike helmets are extremely effective at protecting against head injuries. Looking at all of this data together, around 90% of brain injuries can be prevented by wearing a helmet. But it’s not just your brain. About 65% of facial injuries can be prevented,” says Dr. Lois Lee from the Department of Emergency Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Despite the evidence, a study shows that only 42% of children wear a bike helmet at all times. 30% never wear one.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 21 states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring children of a certain age to wear a helmet when riding a bike. dr Lee says, “I would say treat it like a seat belt. So insist on your kid wearing it every time. Also try to make it fun – you can actually choose the helmet with your kid.”
Lee says the helmet should cover the forehead above the eyebrows, the straps should lie flat against the head with the divider below the ears, and only two fingers should fit between the chin and the chin strap.
Four-year-old Harrison Fleming has been perfecting his two-wheeler all summer. His father Eric makes sure he always wears a helmet. “We’re lucky to live here in a cul-de-sac where there isn’t much traffic, but accidents can always happen,” he says.
Eric hopes Harrison will always choose to protect himself. “I hope he wears a helmet his whole life. I don’t think there’s an age limit for safety,” he says.
According to the AAP, children, young people and their parents should always wear an appropriate and well-fitting helmet when riding bikes, snow sports, ice skating and horseback riding.
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