The effectiveness of bicyclist helmets: a study of 1710 casualties.
During the 1980s, a sustained campaign increased the rates of helmet use of Victorian bicyclists. The efficacy of helmet use was evaluated by comparison of crashes and injuries (AIS-1985) in 366 helmeted (261 Australian Standard approved and 105 non-approved) and 1344 unhelmeted casualties treated from 1987 through 1989 at Melbourne and Geelong hospitals or dying before hospitalization. Head injury (HI) occurred in 21.1% of wearers of approved helmets and in 34.8% of non-wearers (p < 0.001). The AIS scores were decreased for wearers of approved helmets (p < 0.001), face injuries were reduced (p < 0.01), and extremity/pelvic girdle injuries increased (p < 0.001) and the overall risk of HI was reduced by at least 39% and face injury by 28%. When casualties with dislodged helmets were excluded, HI was reduced 45% by approved helmets. Head injury reduction by helmets, although substantial, was less than that found in a similar study in Seattle, Washington.
McDermott
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FT
Department of Surgery, Monash University Medical School, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
Lane
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JC
Brazenor
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GA
Debney
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EA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000293:injuries; D012737:Sex Factors