Bicycle helmet use in Canada the need for legislation to reduce the risk of head injury

Question 1

What percentage of Canadian children have ridden a bicycle at least once in the past 12 months?

Answer 1

91% 5-12yo

77% 13-17yo

Question 2

How frequent are bike related injuries?

Answer 2

4% of all ED injuries
7% of all hospital admissions for unintentional injury
5th leading cause of child hospitalization
5% of all deaths due to unintentional injury
30-53% of bicycling fatalities occur in children and youth

Question 3

How frequent are bicycling related head injuries?

Answer 3

20-40% of all bicycling injuries

45-100% of child and youth bicycling deaths

Question 4

How much does helmet use reduce the risk of head and brain injuries?

Answer 4

60-69%

Question 5

How much does helmet use reduce the risk of severe brain injuries?

Answer 5

58-74%

Question 6

How much does helmet use reduce the risk of facial injuries?

Answer 6

47-65%

Question 7

How much does helmet use reduce the risk of fatal injury?

Answer 7

73%

Question 8

What is the increase in helmet use post legislation?

Answer 8

At least 30%

Highest in regions with all ages legislaton

Question 9

What is the difference in head injury risk post legislation?

Answer 9

Studies have been inconclusive but difficult to assess as does not control for whether injured individual was actually wearing a helmet

Question 10

What is the association between helmet use and risk compensation?

Answer 10

Inconclusive

Question 11

What is the association between helmet use and ridership?

Answer 11

In summary, the evidence of a reduction in bicycling among children and adolescents following helmet legislation is mixed, and few studies have adequately accounted for existing bicycling trends independent of a helmet law.

Question 12

Can bicycle helmet legislation affect use without enforcement?

Answer 12

Yes

Question 13

What does the CPS recommend?

Answer 13

1. All jurisdictions in Canada should legislate and enforce bicycle helmet use for all ages
2. Legislation should be rolled out using social marketing and education to raise awareness
3. Other strategies to prvent injuries should be implemented concurrently
4. MD should counsel families about the importance of wearing bicycle helmets
5. Sales tax exemptions or rebates and federal tax credits to make purchase of bicycle helmets less expensive should be adopted

Question 14

Which provinces are excellent and meet all CPS recommendations?

Answer 14

BC, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI

Question 15

Which provinces are good and need to amend current legislation to include all age groups?

Answer 15

Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario

Question 16

Which provinces are poor and have no current legislation?

Answer 16

Saskatchewan, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, NWT, Nunavut