As a doctor in a pediatric emergency division, one would assume that my ardour for bicycle helmet security stems from treating the variety of kids I see sustaining critical or life-threatening head accidents within the ER. Sure, in fact, that’s actually one cause why I am fond of it. However my drive for enacting bicycle helmet laws is rather more private than that. I wouldn’t be right here, penning this weblog submit, if I wasn’t sporting a bicycle helmet three years in the past.
On October 16, 2010 whereas on a bicycle experience, I sustained life-threatening accidents after I was struck by a car that didn’t yield whereas making a left flip. I used to be using on the right facet of the highway, and I used to be sporting a helmet, however I nonetheless suffered a number of orthopedic accidents in addition to a extreme traumatic mind damage. I used to be not anticipated to outlive the primary evening. I spent a complete of six weeks within the intensive care unit. Upon awakening from my coma, I used to be not capable of transfer my proper arm and suffered expressive aphasia, a situation the place I used to be unable to think about and formulate the phrases I used to be making an attempt to speak. Regardless of all predictions from the medical workforce, after 4 months of intensive rehabilitation and with nice assist from my household, mates and colleagues, I used to be capable of return to work as a pediatric resident solely six months after my accident. I even accomplished my pediatric residency this previous winter, which was solely six months after I had initially deliberate. I’m very blessed and lucky to really feel fully recovered and doing in addition to I’m at the moment.
I can not stress sufficient how completely different my consequence would have been with no helmet. I would like dad and mom to grasp the significance of helmets for his or her kids. As a pediatrician, I see dad and mom questioning whether or not they need to make their kids put on a helmet. They didn’t put on one as a baby, and so they doubt that their youngster might have an accident extreme sufficient to trigger a big head damage. I perceive that line of pondering, however we all know extra now than we did again then. We’ve got extra statistics. Non-helmeted riders are 14 occasions extra more likely to be concerned in a deadly crash than helmeted riders. Bicycle helmets scale back the danger of head damage by 85 p.c and the danger of mind damage by as a lot as 88 p.c.
I inform my dad and mom and sufferers that the priority isn’t associated to their biking abilities (although this positively is usually a downside in kids); the priority is folks round them that might not be paying consideration. I used to be an grownup, obeying the legislation, being cautious and nonetheless had a extreme accident. A baby is probably going not being as cautious and is actually much less seen.
So what can dad and mom do? To start with, put on a helmet your self. Dad and mom who mannequin sporting helmets improve the probability of their kids sporting helmets. Second, buy a helmet that correctly matches your youngster’s head. They usually price round $10. The under picture may also help you establish in case your youngster’s helmet matches appropriately.
(picture supplied by Ohio AAP “Put a Lid on it”)
Third, if you wish to take it a step additional, speak to your legislative consultant about passing a bicycle helmet legislation. It’s laws that I really feel very strongly about and it might use your assist. One examine confirmed that inside 5 years of passage of a state necessary bicycle helmet legislation for youngsters ages 13 and beneath, bicycle-related fatalities decreased by 60 p.c. Whereas dad and mom are far and away law-abiding residents and need nothing however the very best for his or her kids, I believe having a legislation in place would assist shine a light-weight on the need for helmets and would assist promote compliance.
Whereas final week was Ohio Bike Helmet Security Consciousness Week, it’s a subject that ought to be top-of-mind for each mother or father, each time your youngster hops on a motorcycle. Carrying a helmet saved my life and statistics present that common use might save between 135 and 155 deaths, between 39,000 and 45,000 head accidents, and between 18,000 and 55,000 scalp and face accidents yearly.
I wish to be part of that effort and I hope you’ll be a part of me.
