As a doctor in a , one would suppose that my ardour for bicycle helmet security stems from treating the variety of youngsters 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 far more private than that. I wouldn’t be right here, scripting 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 automobile that didn’t yield whereas making a left flip. I used to be driving on the proper facet of the street, and I used to be sporting a helmet, however I nonetheless suffered a number of orthopedic accidents in addition to a extreme traumatic mind harm. 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 now 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 crew, after 4 months of intensive rehabilitation and with nice assist from my household, buddies 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 utterly recovered and doing in addition to I’m at the moment.
I can not stress sufficient how totally different my final result would have been with no helmet. I need mother and father to know the significance of helmets for his or her youngsters. As a pediatrician, I see mother and father questioning whether or not they need to make their youngsters put on a helmet. They didn’t put on one as a baby, and so they doubt that their youngster may have an accident extreme sufficient to trigger a major head harm. 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 harm by 85 % and the danger of mind harm by as a lot as 88 %.
I inform my mother and father and sufferers that the priority isn’t associated to their biking expertise (although this undoubtedly generally is a drawback in youngsters); the priority is individuals round them that will not be paying consideration. I used to be an grownup, obeying the regulation, 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 mother and father do? To begin with, put on a helmet your self. Mother and father who mannequin sporting helmets enhance the chance of their youngsters sporting helmets. Second, buy a helmet that correctly suits your youngster’s head. They usually price round $10. The beneath picture might help you establish in case your youngster’s helmet suits 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 regulation. It’s laws that I really feel very strongly about and it may use your assist. One examine confirmed that inside 5 years of passage of a state necessary bicycle helmet regulation for youngsters ages 13 and underneath, bicycle-related fatalities decreased by 60 %. Whereas mother and father are far and away law-abiding residents and need nothing however the perfect for his or her youngsters, I believe having a regulation in place would assist shine a light-weight on the need for helmets and would assist promote compliance.
Whereas final week was , it’s a subject that must be top-of-mind for each father or mother, each time your youngster hops on a motorcycle. Sporting a helmet saved my life and statistics present that common use may 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 part of me.