Medical consultant urges children and young people to wear helmets while cycling this summer

AN EMERGENCY department paediatrician has urged children and young people to wear a helmet at all times while cycling.

Dr Carol Blackburn, Consultant Paediatrician in Emergency Medicine at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, has said if she could prescribe a helmet to every child in Ireland she would.

Dr Blackburn’s comments come as new data collated by CHI shows there has been a yearly increase in children presenting to emergency departments with injuries due to cycling without helmets.

This uptick begins every year in May and continues throughout the summer, coinciding with summer holidays, according to CHI.

“CHI staff report treating skull fractures, concussions, lacerations and facial injuries that could have been avoided if these children and adolescents were wearing helmets on their bikes”, the statement reads.

Dr Blackburn urged parents not to underestimate the speed a child can build up on a bicycle or the impact a crash or collision can have on their bodies. 

Evidence shows that helmets reduce the likelihood of brain injury by over 80% and reduces the likelihood of facial injuries by 65%. In countries where the wearing of bicycle helmets has been legislated, significant reductions in hospitalisations from head injuries have been reported after the introduction of helmets as a law.

"Just like it is a given that everyone wears a seatbelt in a car, it should be ingrained from a young age that everyone always wears a helmet on their bike. Even smaller children on their scooters should start the habit early,” she explained.

CHI has also published tips on how to get the perfect fit for your child's helmet.

*The best way to get the best fit is to first measure your child's head and then buy the right size helmet for them. But even then, it will need some adjusting.

*The helmet should cover most of their forehead with only room for two fingers between their eyebrows and their helmet. If it is too low, they won't be able to see properly. If it is too high, it won't protect their forehead properly.

*The helmet should not move from side to side or backwards and forwards. Use the bands within the helmet to make sure it is stable on their head. Ask them to shake their head to make sure it stays in place.

*The straps should fit below their ears and be firm and snug. You should not be able to get more than one finger in between the straps and their chin. If you can, tighten them up.

*Check the fit regularly as straps can loosen over time.

Don't forget to set the best example and wear your helmet too