Bicycle-associated head injuries and deaths in the United States from 1984 through 1988 : how many are preventable ?

The objective of this study was to estimate the potentials from more widespread bicycle safety helmet use in the United States through the use of mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics and morbidity data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. The data examined covered the period from 1984 through 1988. Based on this data, the study (1) quantified the magnitude of bicycle related head injuries and deaths; (2) examined their descriptive epidemiology; and (3) calculated preventable head injuries and deaths.