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The White Helmets: Once construction workers, students and barbers, these Syrians are now volunteers who wear white helmets while rescuing civilians in rebel-con trolled areas from brutal bombing campaigns by [...]

When your mother told you to wear a helmet while riding your bicycle, this probably isn't what she meant. A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Bath [...]

BACKGROUND. Data on injuries due to off-road bicycling are scarce, but do indicate that injuries in this sport are frequent. We examined the pattern of injuries to off-road riders as [...]

Objective: To observe the effect of new legislation and a boroughwide bicycle helmet educational campaign on bicycle helmet use in a multiracial population. Design: A prospective observational study. Observations were made at randomly selected sites in Queens (study group) and Brooklyn (control group), NY, in May 1994, before a New York State law affecting both boroughs was enacted and before a bicycle helmet educational campaign was conducted in Queens. Variables observed included age, sex, race, and whether the child was wearing a bicycle helmet while riding. A bicycle helmet campaign was conducted in late May 1994. New York State bicycle helmet law was effected on June 1, 1994, requiring all children aged 1 to 14 years to wear helmets while riding their bicycles. Follow-up observations were made at the same sites in July or August 1994. Setting: Queens County, New York, which is the most racially diverse county in the United States, according to 1990 census data. Participants: Cross-sectional observations of children aged 1 to 14 years made at randomly selected sites. Interventions: A boroughwide bicycle helmet educational campaign conducted in May 1994 in Queens. Results: The overall use of helmets increased from 4.7% (13/276) to 13.9% (44/316) (P [is less than] .001) in the study group. Helmet use decreased from 5.6% (19/342) to 4.2%(13/312). (P = .10) in the control group during the same period. Conclusions: In a multiracial population, a statistically significant (P [is less than] .001) increase of helmet use was demonstrated after a campaign and distribution of educational material. Legislation alone is inadequate for ensuring increased bicycle helmet use. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151:41-44, Legislation requiring that children wear helmets while riding a bicycle may not be sufficient to induce compliance in a racially mixed neighborhood. Researchers observed bicycle helmet use before and after New York State passed a law requiring helmet use at sites in Queens, where an educational campaign was conducted in English only, and Brooklyn, where there was no campaign. No change was seen in Brooklyn. Helmet use increased from 5% to 14% in Queens. No change was seen in Queens among children aged 1 to 4 or among Hispanics or Asians.

Objectives: To evaluate an Oregon law requiring bicyclists younger than 16 years to wear a helmet and to compare methods of measuring helmet use. Design: Four prelaw and postlaw statewide helmet use surveys: (1) statewide observations, (2) middle school observations, (3) classroom self-report surveys, and (4) a statewide adult telephone survey. Setting: Oregon. Subjects: Statewide observations, 3313 child bicyclists at 13 sites; middle school observations, 995 child bicyclists at 33 randomly selected middle schools, classroom self-report surveys, fourth, sixth, and eighth graders in 448 classrooms (ie, 8955 students) before the law was effected and 456 classrooms (ie, 9811 students) after the law was effected in 66 randomly selected schools; and statewide telephone survey, 1219 randomly called parents of 1437 children younger than 16 years. Main Outcome Measures: Prelaw and postlaw helmet use and ownership and knowledge and opinion about the law. Results: Observed helmet use among youth was before the law was effected and 49.3% after the law was effected. School-observed use increased from 20.4% to 56.1%. Classroom survey self-reported 'always' use of helmets increased from 25.8% to 76.0% reported use on the day of the survey increased from 25.8% to 76.0%. Telephone survey-reported 'always' helmet use increased from 36.8% to 65.7%. Younger children and girls were more likely to use helmets. Most students (ie, 87.8%) and parents (ie, 95.4%) knew about the law; however, only 42.6% of children thought the law was a good idea. Conclusions: We conclude that (1) the law increased helmet use; (2) although use estimates differ, all helmet surveys showed similar degrees of prelaw and postlaw change; and (3) half of child bicyclists are still not wearing helmets, indicating a need for additional promotion of helmet wearing. Laws seem to be an effective way to increase helmet use., Oregon's passage of a law mandating bicycle helmet use in children appears to have increased usage, but helmet use remains inadequate. Researchers compared helmet usage before and after the Oregon law was passed through direct observations at sites state-wide and at 33 middle schools and surveys of schoolchildren and parents. Observed helmet use increased from 25% to 49% at sites and from 20% to 56% at schools. Children reporting they always wore helmets increased from 15% to 39%. Parents reporting their children always wore helmets increased from 37% to 66%. Nonetheless, half of the observed children were not wearing helmets.

A multinomial logit formulation presents a multivariate analysis of motorcycle-rider accident severity in single-vehicle collisions. A probabilistic model, comprising variables related to environmental factors, road conditions, and rider and vehicle characteristics, is used to explore the causal processes underlying accident severity. Findings show that despite cautious riding, older riders suffer severe injuries in an accident due to physiological factors. Although use of helmets reduces injury severity in some types of collisions, it rarely benefits in fixed-object collisions.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a state law on reported bicycle helmet ownership and use. Design: Multistage cluster random-digit-dialing telephone survey. Setting: Georgia, June through November 1993. Participanis: Adults who reported the behavior of bicyclists 4 through 15 years old. Intervention: State law mandating helmet use after July 1, 1993, for all bicyclists aged younger than 16 years. Main Outcome Measures: Bicycle helmet ownership and use. Results: Reported helmet ownership increased from 39% before the law took effect to 57% afterward (+46%, P=.06). Reported use increased from 33% before to 52% afterward (+58%, P, State laws mandating bicycle helmet use in children appears to increase helmet ownership and use. A random sample of Georgia parents in 47 households surveyed before passage of a bicycle helmet law and 182 households surveyed after passage of the law reported on helmet ownership and use among their children aged 4 to 15. Overall, ownership increased from 39% to 57% and use from 33% to 52%. In households aware of the law, 69% of riders owned and 64% used a helmet versus 30% ownership and 25% usage in households not aware of the law.

The issue of mandatory cycle helmets is highly contentious. The aim of this paper is not to argue for or against legislation but to suggest criteria on which the debate should focus. This is done by attempting to answer the question: 'What criteria must be met before cycle helmet wearing is enforced?' Consideration is given to principles, precedents and consequences and four criteria are suggested. The criteria are to do with effectiveness, personal liberty, public acceptability and the promotion of the public health benefits of cycling. Key words: Cycle helmets; effectiveness; personal liberty; public acceptability.

Survey results indicate the existence of three basic child-safety problem areas: nonuse of bicycle helmets, access to guns, and unsafe neighborhoods. Tips for minimizing risks in each of these problem areas are presented. Bike helmets can also be used for other sports., PEER PRESSURE. STRANGERS. THE Doberman next door. Every kid has been warned about them. But the safest kids are the ones whose parents have taught them what to actually do [...]

Objective: To determine the association between bicycle helmet legislation and bicycle safety education and the use of bicycle helmets by children under age 16 years. Design: Anonymous questionnaire and direct observations of bicycle helmet use. Setting: Four predominantly white, upper-middle class suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. Participants: All students in grades 1 through 7 attending public school on the day of the survey and children riding bicycles in a direct observational study. Interventions: Beachwood had bicycle helmet legislation and safety education. Orange had only bicycle helmet legislation. Pepper Pike and Moreland Hills did not have bicycle helmet legislation or safety education. Results: In Beachwood, 416 (67.6%) of 615 children who owned a bicycle reported always wearing their helmets, and 72 (85%) of 85 children directly observed were wearing bicycle helmets. In Orange, 103 (37.2%) of 277 children who owned bicycles reported always wearing helmets, whereas 41 (17.9%) of 229 children in Moreland Hills and 78 (21.5%) of 362 children in Pepper Pike reported always wearing helmets. Helmet use was significantly (P, Bicycle safety education combined with legislation requiring children to wear bicycle helmets may be effective in increasing bicycle helmet use. Elementary school children in four neighboring communities of similar racial and socioeconomic makeup answered a survey on safety, including frequency of bicycle helmet use. One community had a helmet ordinance and had conducted an extensive helmet promotion campaign in the schools. Another community had a helmet ordinance but no education program. The other two communities had neither regulations nor education concerning bicycle helmets. Only 18-22% of children who owned bicycles in these towns indicated they always wore helmets, compared with 37% in the community with legislation alone and 68% in the community with both legislation and education. These results suggest that while helmet legislation is somewhat effective in increasing use, legislation plus safety education can encourage even more children to use bicycle helmets.

Byline: STEPHANIE GOLDBERG Developing relationships with athletic trainers and coaches can help risk managers at universities mitigate and manage concussions among student-athletes, experts said Tuesday at a session at the [...]

Comprehensive programs may increase bicycle safety and helmet use among youth. While bicycle use has increased, only 10% to 12% of youths use helmets. Helmet use can lower the risk of head injury by 85% and the risk of serious brain injury by 88%. Most bicycle crashes occur in cities, where children are the least likely to wear helmets. A three-week bicycle safety module (BSM) was incorporated into a summer day camp for inner-city youth. Children between the ages of six and 14 were instructed on cycling safety and the need for helmets, bicycle maintenance, traffic laws, riding skills and pre-ride checks. They participated in biking activities and a bicycle rodeo. Observed helmet use within the day camp rose from none before implementation of BSM to 98.2% during BSM. However, after the camp was over, observed helmet use in the neighborhood dropped back to zero. Periodic reinforcement of BSM may help youths continue safe bicycling practices and helmet use.

AN AVID CYCLIST and Team USA athlete with a neuroscience background, Herndon, Va., attorney Doug Landau understands the dangers of riding a bike without a helmet and the devastating effects [...]

Mike Morris's hard hat saved his life. On the afternoon of Mar. 17, 1989, he was on top of a 64-in. pipe about to be lowered into a ditch. Morris, […]

Motorcyclists are gaining prominence as voters and many lawmakers from different states including Michigan are trying to lobby for them who are against the law regarding the use of helmets. In this regard, the officials of the National Highway Traffics Safety Administration (NHTSA) are worried about the increasing number of traffic deaths, which are caused due to lack of helmet safety rules.

The purpose of this research was to explore the changes in children's bicycle helmet use and motor vehicle bicycle related injuries in Hillsborough County, Florida before and after passage of [...]

2002 WAS A SAD YEAR in the pole vault. The deaths of two high school and one college vaulters due to head and neck injuries recreated the vigorous debate on [...]

Byline: Jon Hemmerdinger âThe US Air Force is seeking an improved digital helmet-mounted display (DHMD) for pilots in response to the increasing complexity of aircraft and weapons systems. The US [...]