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Bicycle helmets prevent serious head injuries in accidents
Wearing a helmet for cyclists is generally recommended, but many reject a duty. And that even though bicycle helmets can save lives. They reduce the risk of serious head injuries, as a study now reveals.
A bicycle helmet can save lives
Scientific research can prove again and again: A bicycle helmet can decide about life and death. Recently, researchers from the University of New South Wales, Australia reported that cycling helmets can prevent up to 70 percent of deadly head injuries. And a recent study by US scientists now shows that a cycling helmet reduces the risk of severe head trauma (SHT) by half if the driver suffers a head injury.
Wearing a bicycle helmet reduces the risk of serious head injury in the event of an accident. Nevertheless, not all experts are in favor of the introduction of a legal helmet requirement. (Picture: Picture-Factory / fotolia.com) "Similar to a seatbelt"
This is the result of an evaluation published in the American Journal of Surgery, as reported by the Association of Paediatricians (BVKJ) on its website "kinderaerzte-im-netz.de". Also, the risk of dying as a result of a bicycle accident or breaking face bones is lower for helmet wearers compared to cyclists without a helmet.
In a message from Fox News, Dr. Jerri Rose: "It's similar to a seatbelt." The pediatrician from Cleveland, Ohio, who was not involved in the study, said, "Wearing a belt can not prevent you from being involved in a car accident, but it reduces the risk of injury and death in a car accident. "
Lower risk of severe brain trauma
To reach their conclusions, the researchers used the American College of Surgeons database to analyze medical records of 6,267 people who had been brainwashed in 2012 following a bicycle accident. According to the information, a quarter of the patients had worn a bicycle helmet at the time of the accident. About half of the patients had severe traumatic brain injury, three percent died.
The study found that people wearing helmets had a 52 percent lower risk of suffering severe brain trauma compared to cyclists without a helmet and a 44 percent lower risk of dying from the consequences of the accident.
In addition, cyclists wearing helmets were also 31 percent less likely to have facial fractures, with the top of the face most protected, especially around the eyes. However, the helmets offered less protection against fractures in the lower part of the face, such as the nose and chin. The authors also reported that cyclists with helmets less often had to undergo brain surgery following an accident.
Experts against the introduction of helmet duty
According to American statistics, cyclists aged 10 to 20 were the least likely to wear helmets, while 60- to 70-year-olds were in the age group most likely to put on a bicycle helmet. Approximately 75 percent of the patients enrolled in this study did not. "Especially teenagers do not find it so cool," the authors suggested.
In Germany, only about every seventh cyclist wears a helmet. Investigations, which show the dangers of the "topless" driving, lead again and again to the discussion over a legal helmet obligation for Radler. Although there are many advocates, but among other things, the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) has long struggled against such a rule. One of the main reasons for this is that the overall use of bicycles would decrease as a result. It is recommended to wear a helmet in general, but still. (Ad)