A biomechanical study of bicycle helmets' effectiveness in childhood.
The authors present the results of a series of impact tests on pedal cycle helmets. 10 helmets were tested using a drop test under three different test conditions: Left frontal/temporal from 1 m, right frontal/temporal from 1.5 m and left occipital from 1 m. Impact force and the acceleration of the headform's centre of gravity in three axes were measured. As a result of the authors' field research on pedal cycle helmets in Australia the 1.5 m drop height was considered to be more representative of a "real" accident than the less severe 1 m height fall. The range of resultant maximal accelerations, 1 m drop height, was 81 g to 193 g; 1.5 m drop height 122 g to 209 g. In comparison a fall without helmet from 0.5 m produced a maximal resultant acceleration of 282 g. Head injury criteria values were for 1 m drops between 201 and 630; from 1.5 m 547 to 1078; and without helmet from 0.5 m 906. The individual helmets are compared on these figures and their merits discussed.
Benz
G
G
Kinderchirurgische Abteilung, Chirurgisches Zentrum, Universität Heidelberg, Germany.
McIntosh
A
A
Kallieris
D
D
Daum
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D012886:Skull / Q000503:physiopathology