The bicycle helmet is far from being used by all cyclists. However, its use considerably reduces the risk of head trauma.
For those who still doubt, wearing a helmet protects bike lovers. In fact, cyclists wearing a helmet have a 58% lower risk of being the victim of a serious head injury compared to those not wearing one, according to a study presented this Thursday at the Annual Congress of the American Association of Surgery. .
To reach this conclusion, the researchers analyzed the medical records of more than 6,200 patients admitted to hospital with head trauma after a bicycle accident. Of these, only a quarter wore a helmet.
Headphones are useful
Scientists then investigated whether wearing a helmet really protected pedal enthusiasts. And it turns out so. Helmet wearers have a 58% lower risk of being seriously injured in the head and as much (59%) of dying from a bicycle accident compared to cyclists without a helmet. In addition, the former have 26% less risk of fracturing the nose or other bones of the skull and face, especially the upper face.
“If you are severely injured but were wearing a helmet during the accident then you are going to be better off,” said Dr. Bellal Joseph, lead author of the study.
Children are less protected
In addition, the researchers were interested in the impact of the age and the gender of the cyclists victims of accidents where a head injury has occurred. “The lowest rate of helmet use was observed among 10-20 year olds. On the other hand, wearing a helmet increases with age every 10 years, ”says Ansab Haider, one of the study’s authors.
They also noted that those in their 70s are the cyclists who use a bicycle helmet the most, before their use decreases. The authors also found that women are more inclined to protect their heads than men.
For the authors, the next step is to carry out prevention programs to promote the wearing of helmets, but also to produce stronger ones to better protect cycle lovers.
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