Cyclists putting themselves at "significant risk" by not wearing helmets

http://health.usnews.com/health-news...m-wear-helmets

Four out of five Americans who participate in public bike-sharing programs
don't wear helmets and are putting themselves at significant risk for head
injuries, a new study shows.

In bike-sharing programs, riders rent bikes from kiosks located throughout a
city. There are 15 bike-sharing programs in the United States and 30 more in
development, according to the researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical
Center in Boston.

The researchers collected data on helmet use among more than 3,000 adult
cyclists participating in the Capital Bikeshare program in Washington, D.C.,
and the Hubway bike-share program in Boston.

The researchers said they were surprised to find that only 20 percent of the
riders in the bike-share programs wore helmets.

"Head injury accounts for about a third of all bicycle injuries and about
three-quarters of bicycle-related deaths, so these are some pretty shocking
numbers," lead author and emergency medicine physician Dr. Christopher
Fischer said in a medical center news release.

The study was published online April 30 in the journal Annals of Emergency
Medicine.

Fischer and his colleagues noted that previous studies have shown that
"helmet use is associated with decreased rates of head injury and mortality
in riders of all ages, with bicycle helmets decreasing the risk of head and
brain injury by 65 percent to 88 percent."

The bike-sharing programs in Washington, D.C., and Boston encourage riders
to wear helmets, but helmet use is not a requirement for bike rental.

Done safely, a rise in bike sharing offers benefits to the environment (less
air pollution) and health (more exercise), the release noted.

"Bike-sharing programs have the potential to offer a lot of benefits to
cyclists and cities, but it's important to encourage safe cycling," Fischer
said. "We know that wearing a helmet reduces the risk of head injury
dramatically and we believe that helmets should be more readily available at
bike-rental sites."

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers bicycle-safety tips.

On Sat, 5 May 2012 16:35:51 +0100, "Mr. Benn" wrote:


"Head injury accounts for about a third of all bicycle injuries and about
three-quarters of bicycle-related deaths, so these are some pretty shocking
numbers," lead author and emergency medicine physician Dr. Christopher
Fischer said in a medical center news release.



Fischer and his colleagues noted that previous studies have shown that
"helmet use is associated with decreased rates of head injury and mortality
in riders of all ages, with bicycle helmets decreasing the risk of head and
brain injury by 65 percent to 88 percent."


As we thought.

"Judith" wrote in message
...

On Sat, 5 May 2012 16:35:51 +0100, "Mr. Benn" wrote:


"Head injury accounts for about a third of all bicycle injuries and about
three-quarters of bicycle-related deaths, so these are some pretty shocking
numbers," lead author and emergency medicine physician Dr. Christopher
Fischer said in a medical center news release.

Fischer and his colleagues noted that previous studies have shown that
"helmet use is associated with decreased rates of head injury and mortality
in riders of all ages, with bicycle helmets decreasing the risk of head and
brain injury by 65 percent to 88 percent."

As we thought.
==================================

They won't listen, they never do. Still in the mind-set of some seat belt
deniers when seat belt legislation was first introduced for drivers.

On 05/05/2012 21:12, Zapp Brannigan wrote:

"Mr. Benn" wrote in message ...
http://health.usnews.com/health-news...m-wear-helmets


"Head injury accounts for about a third of all bicycle injuries and about
three-quarters of bicycle-related deaths, so these are some pretty shocking
numbers," lead author and emergency medicine physician Dr. Christopher
Fischer said

Pah, obviously an idiot. What would an ER medic know about such things?

Doctors are held in high regard by anti-helmet cyclists. You'd be surprised
at some of the insults which have thrown in the direction of the medical
profession(s) by some posters here.

"Zapp Brannigan" wrote in message ...

"Mr. Benn" wrote in message
...
http://health.usnews.com/health-news...m-wear-helmets

"Head injury accounts for about a third of all bicycle injuries and about
three-quarters of bicycle-related deaths, so these are some pretty
shocking numbers," lead author and emergency medicine physician Dr.
Christopher Fischer said

Pah, obviously an idiot. What would an ER medic know about such things?
================================================== ====

Exactly. Doctors aren't taught anything about head injuries during their
training. ;-)

On 05/05/2012 21:46, Mr. Benn wrote:
"Zapp Brannigan" wrote in message ...

"Mr. Benn" wrote in message
...
http://health.usnews.com/health-news...m-wear-helmets


"Head injury accounts for about a third of all bicycle injuries and about
three-quarters of bicycle-related deaths, so these are some pretty shocking
numbers," lead author and emergency medicine physician Dr. Christopher
Fischer said

Pah, obviously an idiot. What would an ER medic know about such things?
================================================== ====

Exactly. Doctors aren't taught anything about head injuries during their
training. ;-)

In particular, they fail to be aware of the scientific fact that if a cyclist
without a helmet is hurtling towards the ground head-first, they will stop
2cm above the ground and hover in mid-air (protected by some invisible aura
which automatically kicks in when needed).

And of course, advanced science (particularly via its cross-disciplinary
approach in conjunction with applied legal services) knows that a cyclist in
the same unfortunate position whilst wearing a helmet will fail to have his
aura materialise when it is needed and so will hit the ground even harder and
suffer more injury relative to his impact speed.

They stop just short of concluding that he deserves it.

On May 5, 9:12*pm, "Zapp Brannigan" wrote:


http://health.usnews.com/health-news.../05/05/city-bi...
"Head injury accounts for about a third of all bicycle injuries and about
three-quarters of bicycle-related deaths, so these are some pretty
shocking numbers," lead author and emergency medicine physician Dr.
Christopher Fischer said

Pah, obviously an idiot. *What would an ER medic know about such things?

Not a lot - my surgeon thought that wearing a plastic hat would have
saved me from a bust collarbone.
After 15 minutes of talking tosh he did what he was paid for and
stopped talking tripe about pop caps.
--
Simon Mason

On 06/05/2012 07:52, Simon Mason wrote:
On May 5, 9:12 pm, "Zapp wrote:


http://health.usnews.com/health-news.../05/05/city-bi...
"Head injury accounts for about a third of all bicycle injuries and about
three-quarters of bicycle-related deaths, so these are some pretty
shocking numbers," lead author and emergency medicine physician Dr.
Christopher Fischer said

Pah, obviously an idiot. What would an ER medic know about such things?

Not a lot - my surgeon thought that wearing a plastic hat would have
saved me from a bust collarbone.
After 15 minutes of talking tosh he did what he was paid for and
stopped talking tripe about pop caps.
--
Simon Mason

Lets weigh up the qualifications of each side.

A&E Surgeon: Many years of training, in depth medical & anatomical
knowledge, vast experience in trauma treatment.

Mason: Total ****wit.


Tough call.

--
Dave - Cyclists VOR. "Many people barely recognise the bicycle as a
legitimate mode of transport; it is either a toy for children or a
vehicle fit only for the poor and/or strange," Dave Horton - Lancaster
University

On May 6, 7:52*am, Simon Mason wrote:
On May 5, 9:12*pm, "Zapp Brannigan" wrote:



http://health.usnews.com/health-news.../05/05/city-bi....
"Head injury accounts for about a third of all bicycle injuries and about
three-quarters of bicycle-related deaths, so these are some pretty
shocking numbers," lead author and emergency medicine physician Dr.
Christopher Fischer said

Pah, obviously an idiot. *What would an ER medic know about such things?

Not a lot - my surgeon thought that wearing a plastic hat would have
saved me from a bust collarbone.
After 15 minutes of talking tosh he did what he was paid for and
stopped talking tripe about pop caps.

He was not the only one - our work's doctor also made the same mistake
when I got signed fit enough to return to work, so it is not just A+E
merchants who are not clued up.

--
Simon Mason

On May 5, 10:16*pm, JNugent wrote:
On 05/05/2012 21:46, Mr. Benn wrote:









"Zapp Brannigan" wrote in ...

"Mr. Benn" wrote in message
...
http://health.usnews.com/health-news.../05/05/city-bi....

"Head injury accounts for about a third of all bicycle injuries and about
three-quarters of bicycle-related deaths, so these are some pretty shocking
numbers," lead author and emergency medicine physician Dr. Christopher
Fischer said

Pah, obviously an idiot. What would an ER medic know about such things?
================================================== ====

Exactly. Doctors aren't taught anything about head injuries during their
training. ;-)

In particular, they fail to be aware of the scientific fact that if a cyclist
without a helmet is hurtling towards the ground head-first, they will stop
2cm above the ground and hover in mid-air (protected by some invisible aura
which automatically kicks in when needed).


Not an aura - a bungee cord hung from a skyhook, silly!

And of course, advanced science (particularly via its cross-disciplinary
approach in conjunction with applied legal services) knows that a cyclist in
the same unfortunate position whilst wearing a helmet will fail to have his
aura materialise when it is needed and so will hit the ground even harder and
suffer more injury relative to his impact speed.

Well, everybody knows that speed doesn't kill.