Helmet Use in Preventing Head Injuries in Bicycling, Snow Sports, and Other Recreational Activities and Sports

Abstract

Bicycling, snow sports, and other recreational activities and sports are important activities to keep children and youth active as part of a healthy lifestyle. These activities can be associated with serious and fatal head and facial injuries. Helmets, when worn correctly, are effective in decreasing head injuries and fatalities related to these activities. Legislation for helmet use is effective in increasing helmet use in children and, ultimately, in decreasing deaths and head and facial injuries. A multipronged strategy employing legislation, enforcement of laws, and medical clinicians and community programs is important for increasing helmet use to decrease deaths and injuries from recreational sports.

Changes in pediatric injuries sustained while engaged in activities where helmet usage is recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…However, even with stable helmet use rates, given the increasing numbers of children engaging in AWHUR, there was an increase in the gross number of head injuries and patients presenting without a helmet at the time of injury. In evaluating these head injuries and helmet usage, our data align with previous research finding that helmets reduce the severity of TBI (Lee et al 2022 ).…”

“…Although most patients presented with a GCS of 13 to 15 during the 3-year time period (96%), there was an alarming trend toward an increase in children with a GCS of less than 8 from 2.5% pre-pandemic to 3.3% during the pandemic, although this was not statistically significant. Additionally, finding that approximately 7% of children presenting unhelmeted had a GCS of 12 or less compared to 0.9% of helmeted patients again aligns with our knowledge that helmets can reduce severe brain injury (Lee et al 2022 ; Gulack et al 2015 ). While a wide variety of factors can influence neurosurgical consultation and it may be influenced by local practice, it is also important to note the increase in neurosurgical consultation from 6.5% in 2018 to 17.7% of patients in 2020.…”

“…Multiple studies have established the efficacy of helmets in reducing the incidence and severity of TBI in these activities (Denning et al 2014 ; Buehler and Pucher 2021 ; Bowman et al 2009 ; Merrigan et al 2011 ; Thompson et al 1996 ; Fischer et al 2012 ; Sadeghian et al 2017 ; Short et al 2018 ; Fenerty et al 2013 ; McGeehan et al 2004 ; Donohue and Miller 2020 ). The American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) recently published a policy statement reaffirming the importance of proper helmet use during common childhood activities; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) makes similar recommendations (CDC 2011 ; Lee et al 2022 ). Interventions have been shown to increase helmet use in children, including community-based helmet campaigns, which have been shown to be effective in reducing brain injuries through helmet usage (Hooshmand et al 2014 ; Kirsch and Pullen 2003 ; Lachapelle et al 2013 ; Wesson et al 2000 ; Cripton et al 2014 ).…”

Evaluating child helmet protection and testing standards: A study using PIPER child head models aged 1.5, 3, 6, and 18 years

“…Children appear to be overrepresented and at greater risk than adults [ 4 , 5 ]. Both epidemiological and biomechanical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of helmets in reducing the incidences and severity of head injuries [ 2 , 6 – 10 ]. In some countries, children are legally required to wear helmets [ 1 ].…”