More on safe riding

(Originally published in the March 25-31, 2012 issue of the Baguio Chronicle ---

a weekly newspaper based in Baguio City, Philippines ---

by Sly L. Quintos, Associate Editor.)

NOTHING can be more exciting and health beneficial that riding a bicycle. But it can be dangerous if certain safety precautions are disregarded. The risk of a serious brain injury or death as a result of an accident is very real, especially at the time of the accident.

Lacerations, bruises, skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries can occur if there is a blow to the head.

Head injury is perhaps the most common and the most dangerous results of a bicycle crash. Because bicyclists are usually in motion at the time of an accident or fall, significant force may be involved in these injuries. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons reports that without proper protection, a fall of as little as two feet can result in a skull fracture or other traumatic brain injury. The extent of the head injury may depend on the force of the blow. In mild cases, hitting your head during a bicycling accident might involve a brief period of unconsciousness, while serious accidents can cause permanent neurological damage or death.

Traumatic brain injuries are caused by a blow to the head that disrupts the brain's function. It can lead to temporary or permanent disabilities. It is a non-degenertative, non-congenitive injury to the brain because of an external force.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 2008 that nearly 70 percent of all fatal bicycle crashes involve head injuries, but only 20 to 25 percent of bicyclists wear helmets. While it is impossible to prevent all head injuries, regular use of bicycle helmets, combined with an understanding of bicycle safety rules, can greatly reduce these injuries.

Traumatic brain injuries can cause long-term disabilities after a bicycle accident. Common disabilities include communication problems, changes in behavior or personality, depression, aggression and problems with vision, hearing or reasoning. The most common cognitive impairment among severely injured patients is memory loss, characterized by some loss of specific memories and the partial ability to form or store new ones. Problems with thinking, reasoning and memory after a head injury can make it hard for injured people to adequately perform at school or work.

The greatest deterrent to traumatic brain injury due to bicycle accidents is wearing a helmet. The use of helmets has been shown to reduce risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent and the risk of brain injury by 88 percent, reports the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Out of 99 cyclists in the emergency room with serious brain injury, only four percent were wearing helmets during the incident. 

Helmets contain a layer of crushable polystyrene that helps absorb the force of a blow to the head, reducing damage to the skin, skull and brain. The outer plastic shell allows the helmet to slide on rough road surfaces, preventing your neck from jerking or bending when you hit the ground. The safest type of helmet has a round shape with no sharp projections or pointed tails at the back. Tails on helmets can snag during a crash and knock the helmet aside, reducing its ability to protect the head. Replacing helmets that have been in an accident, even if the accident wasn't serious, is an important safety consideration. Once crushed, the polystyrene foam may no longer provide sufficient protection in future accidents.

Luckily, cyclists seem to be listening, as helmet use continues to rise. The older a cyclist is, the more likely he is to wear a helmet. When purchasing a helmet, look for a sticker that says it meets standards required by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Choose a helmet that fits properly, and be sure to snap the buckle together under your chin.*