Although it is generally accepted that bicycle helmets are an effective strategy to reduce bicycle related head injuries, and significant strides have been made in their promotion, helmet use rates remain lower and bicycle related injury rates remain higher among children compared with adults. Injury data also suggest that children from lower income neighborhoods are at greater risk of bicycle related injury, probably because of lower rates of helmet use, limited areas for safe riding, and greater exposure to motor vehicle traffic in high density urban settings. One group that has received little attention in prior helmet promotion studies are pre-school children. While not at high risk for serious bicycle injuries because of their minimal exposure, many pre-school children make the transition from front yard tricycle riding to more risky bicycle riding by the time they enter school. Moreover, the pattern of injuries that are sustained by this age group are comparable with those of older children. There may also be added benefit to having children develop the habit of helmet wearing from the time when the authors' evaluation of the effectiveness of an intervention to increase helmet use in the pre-school age group. (Author/publisher).
Abstract