Consider the Consequences: What a Bicycle Helmet Can Really Do for You

Consider the Consequences: What a Bicycle Helmet Can Really Do for You ..-- Since 1932, nearly 44,000 cyclists have died in the United States. In 1997 alone, exactly 813 cyclists Furthermore, in the same year, approximate- ly 58,000 cyclists were severely injured in traf- fic-related crashes. Each and every year, up- wards of 400,000 children ages 14 and under are taken to emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries. If all children ages 4 to 15 were to actively use a helmet, between 39,000 and 45,000 head injures and 18,000 and 55,000 scalp/- face injuries would be annu- ally prevented. were killed. Studies show that bicycle hel- mets are about 87% effective in lessening the damage caused by brain and head in- juries. It's presumed by both legal and safety professionals that education and the enactment Shockingly, though 70 to 80% of all fatal bicycle Nationally speaking, cy- clists ages 14 and under are 5X more likely to be in- jured on their bikes than older cyclists. crashes involve head trauma, only 18% of active cyclists wear helmets. of laws requiring the use of bicycle helmets are the best ways to increase widespread helmet usage. Robert J. DeBry ASSOCI ATES http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/docs/b_helmetlaws.pdf