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Tue, 21 May 2002 10:51:13 +1000

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I think the efficacy of the bike helmet is dependent upon various factors,
particularly with kids.
I often see kids wearing helmets in the sense that they have them perched on
top of their heads, but the straps are not secured, thus making them next to
useless.
Also, the helmet needs to be the correct size so you aren't just providing them
with a receptacle for their skulls to bounce around in.
Impact speed, I think (could be totally wrong) is another factor. If you're hit
at high speed on a bicycle, my experience is that the helmet doesn't offer much
protection at all.
I'm sure this will be refuted by many others, but that's a good thing.
Sheree.

Russ Pasley wrote:

> I recently read an article in which the author has tried to refute the
> wearing of bike helmets.  He cites a study that claims it has never been
> actually proven that they save lives.  He says the study (which I tried to
> find but couldn't) is based on the fact that in a bicylcist vs. auto,
> pedestrian, bus, etc. accident, the type of collision is a very narrow one
> in which  the helmet will actually save a life or prevent serious head
> injury.  The study  apparently is saying you are either toast or not toast
> regardless of wether or not you have a helmet.  That the number of lives
> they save vs. the actual number of serious bike accidents is very minimal.
> He also points out that very few Europeans wear bike helmets (is this true
> european compatriots?)  I find his claims hard to believe, but I won't
> totally dismiss this until I've checked in for some feedback.  I live in
> San Francisco where there is a healthy number of bicyclists who commute by
> bike and an unhealthy number of number of motor vehicles.  Many cyclists do
> not wear helmets ( though I would say most do), including some of my
> friends whom I worry about.  In your experience in dealing with bike
> accidents do any of you have any thoughts or first hand experience on this.
> Is this guy full of it?  I apprecitate any replies.  Common sense would say
> this guy is way wrong, but I guess you never know.
>
> Sincerely, Russ
>
> --
> trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
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I think the efficacy of the bike helmet is dependent upon various factors,
particularly with kids.
 I often see kids wearing helmets in the sense that they have
them perched on top of their heads, but the straps are not secured, thus
making them next to useless.
 Also, the helmet needs to be the correct size so you aren't just providing
them with a receptacle for their skulls to bounce around in.
 Impact speed, I think (could be totally wrong) is another factor. If
you're hit at high speed on a bicycle, my experience is that the helmet
doesn't offer much protection at all.
 I'm sure this will be refuted by many others, but that's a good thing.
 Sheree.
Russ Pasley wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>I recently read an article in which the author has
tried to refute the
 wearing of bike helmets.&nbsp; He cites a study that claims it has
never been
 actually proven that they save lives.&nbsp; He says the study (which
I tried to
 find but couldn't) is based on the fact that in a bicylcist vs. auto,
 pedestrian, bus, etc. accident, the type of collision is a very narrow
one
 in which&nbsp; the helmet will actually save a life or prevent serious
head
 injury.&nbsp; The study&nbsp; apparently is saying you are either toast
or not toast
 regardless of wether or not you have a helmet.&nbsp; That the number
of lives
 they save vs. the actual number of serious bike accidents is very minimal.
 He also points out that very few Europeans wear bike helmets (is this
true
 european compatriots?)&nbsp; I find his claims hard to believe, but
I won't
 totally dismiss this until I've checked in for some feedback.&nbsp;
I live in
 San Francisco where there is a healthy number of bicyclists who commute
by
 bike and an unhealthy number of number of motor vehicles.&nbsp; Many
cyclists do
 not wear helmets ( though I would say most do), including some of my
 friends whom I worry about.&nbsp; In your experience in dealing with
bike
 accidents do any of you have any thoughts or first hand experience
on this.
 Is this guy full of it?&nbsp; I apprecitate any replies.&nbsp; Common
sense would say
 this guy is way wrong, but I guess you never know.
Sincerely, Russ
--
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