Traumatic Brain Injury: Many Bike Injuries Are Preventable

A report in the Sooke News underscores the importance of wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle, whether you are an adult or a child. Nearly 100 Canadian’s die annually from injuries sustained while riding a bike. In addition, nearly 50,000 Canadian children are injured in bicycle accidents. Surprisingly, most bicycle accidents do not happen on busy streets. They occur on quiet streets, close to home and do not include a motor vehicle.

Most accidents on bicycles are the result of incidents such as the cyclist falling off the bike or colliding with potholes, fences, telephone posts, pedestrians, or other bikes. The report indicates that bicycle accidents are likely to cause severe brain and head injuries which could result in serious intellectual, memory and personality impairment. Many of these injuries are easily preventable by wearing a helmet. Studies show the just wearing a helmet reduces your risk of traumatic brain injury by 85%.