Learning to ride a bicycle, skateboard or in-line skates is a milestone moment in childhood. It’s something we remember with fondness – finally removing the training wheels and conquering a big step towards independence.  Wheeled activities on bicycles, skateboards, in-line skates or scooters are good ways to get outside and exercise. But part of keeping kids active is keeping them safe. While safety around traffic is a major concern, most injuries on wheels are caused by falls. Falls generally occur when a child loses control of his equipment or runs into objects like a curb, fence, another rider, or even a bump on the sidewalk.  And the most serious problem is a head injury – particularly if those children are not wearing helmets.  

According to Transport Canada, in 2007 alone, over 1,000 children under the age of 15 were injured while riding their bikes. A closer look at the data reveals that more than 60 per cent of the children injured were between the ages of 11 and 14.  Almost half of the children were injured in the summer months (June, July or August).

Research shows that a helmet can reduce the chance of head injury by 85 per cent.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, traumatic brain injuries account for eight per cent of emergency room visits for bicycle related injuries, traumatic brain injuries account for four per cent of emergency room visits for both skateboarding and in-line skating related injuries, and six per cent of emergency room visits from riding a scooter for children under 19 years of age. Other serious injuries include broken bones, facial injuries and serious skin abrasions that require grafts.

Children suffer injuries during these wheeled activities because of a combination of factors that most commonly includes inexperience, loss of control, lack of traffic safety skills, high speed, and the tendency to attempt stunts.

Parents must remember that a bike helmet is suitable for riding a bicycle, scooter and in-line skates, but skateboarders need a proper skateboarding helmet that protects the back of the head.

Despite the prevalence of head injuries in Canada, a new Leger Marketing/Safe Kids Canada survey on helmet safety demonstrates that more than a third of Canadian parents with children age 18 and under (35 per cent) are not concerned about their child having a bicycle-related injury.  

But parents need to know that even seemingly minor incidents may cause permanent brain damage.

Putting a Lid on Head Injuries

The truth is helmets save children’s lives.  A child’s skull is only one centimeter thick and can be fractured by an impact of seven to 10 kilometers an hour. Kids on bicycles usually reach these speeds and greater, which is why wearing a helmet is so vital.

Become a ‘Roll’ Model

One of the best ways to get kids to wear their helmets is for children to see their parents or caregivers wear helmets. Children who see their parents wearing helmets on every cycling occasion are more likely to wear their helmets on a regular basis. But according to the new poll data, parents who cycle still have room for improvement: Overall only 31 per cent say they never wear a helmet when bicycling.  Here is the regional breakout - percentage of bicycling parents who say they don’t wear helmets when they cycle:

Parents and caregivers can ride on the road, but children under age 10 should stay on the sidewalks while on wheels.  And while improving road safety for cyclists is a step in the right direction, these are changes that can take years to implement.  Wearing a helmet is an immediate step for parents and kids to take – and it should become a lifelong habit.  

Leading Legislation
It’s a fact that for every dollar spent on a helmet, $30 can be saved in healthcare costs; an important consideration for the development and improvement of helmet legislation across Canada.

Safe Kids Canada knows that the majority of Canadians (81 per cent) support legislation that mandates bicycle helmet use by children and adults riding on public roads. Fathers (73 per cent) and mothers (89 per cent) both show significant support.  Here is the regional breakdown:

Currently Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador and the Territories do not have mandatory bicycle helmet legislation for children under 18. Safe Kids Canada believes there should be a harmonized approach to helmet use for Canadian children. While all-ages helmet legislation is ideal, Safe Kids Canada is advocating for helmet legislation that would at least apply to children in these areas.

When it comes to implementing helmet legislation, 79 per cent of Canadians support police enforcement of helmet use. Canadians are not concerned that helmet legislation would negatively impact how much time their children spend on wheels. The majority (76 per cent) feels helmet legislation will not affect the amount of time their children spend on wheels. Another 14 per cent of Canadian parents feel helmet legislation would increase the total amount of time their child spends bicycling, which is a great step towards staying active. Almost two thirds of Canadian parents (63 per cent) consider helmet legislation as important as seat belt legislation.

Methodology  

Leger Marketing surveyed 1002 adult Canadians with children ages 18 and under about helmet safety. The national online survey was conducted February 1 – 5, 2010 with a confidence level of +/-3.1%, 19 times out of 20.

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For more information contact:
Sheba Zaidi
Environics Communications Inc.
416-969-2652
szaidi@environicspr.com

Kelly Mills
Safe Kids Canada
416-813-6164
kelly.mills@sickkids.ca