Bicycle helmets

Press, 29 July 1989, Page 20

Bicycle helmets

Sir, —The issue of whether or not pupils cycling to school should be required to wear helmets is being debated in a number of Christchurch schools. Anecdotal evidence, from cyclists involved in accidents but whose helmets saved them from several injury, is emotionally compelling. For those seeking "hard data” the scientific evidence is also convincing, as reported in a case-control study published in the May 25, 1989, issue of “The New England Journal of Medicine.” The authors found "that safety helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 85 per cent and of brain injury by 88 per cent. In other words, riders who do not wear helmets appear to be at a 6.6-fold greater risk of head injury and an 8.3fold greater risk of brain injury than riders who do.” They conclude “that bicycle safety helmets are highly effective in preventing head injury. Helmets are particularly important for children, since they suffer the majority of serious head injuries from bicycling accidents.” — Yours, etc., (Prof.) 1 ANDREW HORNBLOW, Department of Community Health and General Practice, Christchurch School of Medicine. July 27,1989.