Despite injuries, helmet-wearing kid is "one of the lucky ones"

Joshua May turned 11 years old on January 2, 2004. He has had more than 17 surgeries in his brief life, but he is still one of the lucky ones.

On Aug. 3 , 2002, Joshua was riding his bike with his grandfather when an older woman driving around the corner didn't see Josh and hit him with her vehicle. Instead of slamming on the brake, she pressed the gas, throwing Josh completely under her vehicle and dragging him into the neighbor's yard.

He severely fractured both legs in several places. He had an open fracture on his left femur and on his right tibia, and an open wound in his scalp. But Josh had been wearing a helmet—which saved his life.

Biking is a fun way for kids to be active and get outside, but danger lurks beneath those tire spokes. Each year, bike-related crashes kill about 900 people and injure 567,000 others. About 30 percent of those deaths were children, and 60 percent of those taken to the emergency room were children.

According to Elaine Ledwon-Robinson, director of speech language pathology and Pediatric Neuro Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan Health System, statistics show that 67,000 of these injuries are head injuries–and most of them, 80 percent to 85 percent, would have been less severe or prevented altogether if the rider had been wearing a helmet.

Even though more people than ever before report using bike helmets, only half of the 80 million riders wear them all the time; and about 43 percent of riders never put on the protective headgear.

According to Robinson, the brain injury or head injury that can occur when a head hits the ground or a car in a bike accident is the most serious danger riders face. Broken bones may be uncomfortable but typically will heal. Brain injuries can have lifelong effects on many of the important things we do automatically everyday, like walking, talking and remembering.

Helmets are "amazing"
"Bike helmets are absolutely amazing," says Rachel May, who knows that if her son Josh had not been wearing the protective headgear, he would not have survived his accident. "The helmet was able to take the impact of what happened to him under that car."

Joshua May agrees, "I want kids to know that wearing a bike helmet is very important and saved my life. Maybe it will save theirs too."

Bike helmet tips
When buying a bike helmet, parents should look for a few key things and most bike stores are happy to help with fitting:
• The helmet needs to fit snuggly.
• Chin straps need to be sturdy.
• When the helmet is on the head it needs to sit evenly, and not too far forward or backward.
• The best helmets are light-colored so they are more easily seen and have smooth surfaces so they don't snag on materials.
• Most importantly, they should always have a sticker inside certifying them as safe.
• Helmets usually last for three to five years, depending on a child's growth rate.
• Parents should always replace a helmet if their child is in a crash.

Parents need to take an active role in encouraging bike helmet use: If children are not willing to wear helmets while biking or skateboarding, then they should not ride or skate at all. Parents should also set an example by wearing helmets themselves.

Other safety tips
In addition to making sure that bikes are tuned, well-maintained and fit properly, bikers should be aware of other tips to ensure their safety:

• Wear close-fitting, light-colored or reflective clothing.
• Walk bikes across busy intersections.
• Never ride against traffic.
• Never wear headphones while riding.
• Make sure to always stop before entering a street—looking left, right, and left again before proceeding.
• But most importantly, always wear a helmet!

For more information:

UMHS Your Child: Safety Out and About
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/outabout.htm

UHMS Health Topics A-Z: Bicycle Safety
http://www.med. u mich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_bicycle_hhg.htm

The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
http:// www.bhsi.org

National Safe Kids Campaign: Bike Helmet Safety Tips
http://www .safekids.org/tier2_rl.cfm?folder_id=169

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Helmet Use
http://orthoinfo. aaos.org/fact