Helmets - Advocacy Morning Report

8/8/2019 Helmets - Advocacy Morning Report

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ADVOCACY MORNING REPORT(AKA CHRISSYS GREATEST PET PEEVE)

Chrissy Raman

January 7, 2011


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SOME DEPRESSING STATISTICS

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Traffic Safety Facts (2009)

y 51,000 bicyclists injured on road in 2009; 630 died.

74 were 14 or younger

y Bicyclist deaths represented 2% of traffic fatalities

(1.5% in Utah)

Fatality rate between ages 5-15 in 2008 was 2.01

per million; injury rate was 293 per million

(fewer fatalities than adults, but more injuries) Total yearly costs of $8 billion


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INJURIES RELATED TO BIKEACCIDENTS

Head: skull fractures, concussions, TBI

y Traumatic Brain Injury: leading cause of morbidity(longterm) and mortality in bike injuries

Two thirds of bicycle-related fatalities (AAP Policy Statement)

And oh so many others:y Injuries to pelvic and abdominal structures (including

handlebar and straddle injuries)

y Fractures and contusions of just about anything

Kids in bike-mounted seats and trailers are notimmune to these injuries

y Bike seats expose kids to adult-level forces

y Trailers do reduce impact of height alone


5/13

NOW FOR HELMET USE:

National Safe Kids Campaign surveyed helmet

use in 549 sites in 2003:

y 41% of kids on wheels wore helmets

y

More than 1/3 of them wore the helmets incorrectlyy Use was most consistent on bike paths and

playgrounds, less so at school and on residential

streets

y Use also better when there was adult supervision,

and especially if the adults were ALSO wearinghelmets.

Teens are particularly bad: in 1997 YRBS,75%

reported riding a bike in the past year; 3.8%

reported always wearing a helmet


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ALL THAT BEING SAID

Wearing a helmet is one of the most cost-effective

thing families can do for injury prevention.

Helmets provide 63-88% reduction in risk of head

and brain injuries in all age groups.y Also can reduce facial injuries by 65%

One person wearing a helmet 85% of the time can

save $440 over 5 years (average).


7/13

WHERE CAN OUR FAMILIES GET THEM?

In Salt Lake City, see your friendly local

Personal Injury Attorney, Robert DeBry and

Assoc.

y

Toddler and child helmets $5, adult and youthhelmets $8 (cash or check only)

y Just come into office location (SLC or St. George)

Cheapest prices in retail:

y Target: $19.99

y Walmart: $14.99

y ToysRUs: $17.99


8/13

AREMINDER:

Helmets need to be certified by the US Consumer

Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

y If certified, will have sticker on the inside

y

Most commercial helmets available now will becertified.

Helmets that have been in a crash that involve

the head hitting a hard surface (or if a fall

resulted in marks on the surface) MUST BE

DISCARDED.


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HOW TO FIT A BIKE HELMET

Step 1: Put it on your head.


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HOW TO FIT A BIKE HELMET

Helmet should be level on head, should not

wiggle side to side or front to back.

Eyes, Ears and Mouth rule

y Should be 2 finger widths above eyesy Y strap should fit right below ears

y Chin strap should be snug against chin but kiddo

should be able to open mouth

Safe Kids USA has a video clip describing above

(http://www.safekids.org/)


11/13

FUN RESOURCE

Utah Department of Health Violence and Injury

Prevention Program

(http://health.utah.gov/vipp/bicycleSafety/overvie

w.html)

y Bike safety (rules of the road)

y Helmet fit guidelines

y How to set up a Bicycle Skills Rodeo (yeeehaw!)

Trailers available with equipment free for public use!


12/13

WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?

Know where families can get helmets for as littleas possible!

Help families fit the helmets

Always ask if they have helmets, but alsowhether they wear it!

y Also ask if the parents wear it!

Provide bike safety (general) counseling aspossible

Bike Rodeo through clinics? Legislative: advocate bike helmet enforcement,

subsidized helmet costs, bike path construction(or dedicated bike lanes)


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REFERENCES

CDC: Bicycle Related Injuries:www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/bikeinjuries.html

Safe Kids USA: http://www.safekids.org/

Utah Department of Health Violence and Injury PreventionProgram:

http://health.utah.gov/vipp/bicycleSafety/overview.html Robert DeBry and Associates Childrens Bike Helmet

Program: http://www.robertdebry.com/bike-helmet.php

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: TrafficSafety Facts: www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pubs/81115.pdf

Up To Date Online: Prevention ofBicycle Injuries in Children.

Johnson, MJ and FP Rivara. Bicycle Related Injuries.AmFamPhysician. 2001 May 15;63(10):2007-2015.

ToysRUs: www.toysrus.com

Walmart: www.walmart.com

Target: www.target.com

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Helmets - Advocacy Morning Report