Bicycle helmets help prevent fatal head injuries: study
Toronto – Not wearing a helmet significantly increases the risk of dying from a head injury in a bicycle crash, according to a study (.pdf file) from St. Michael’s Hospital.
Researchers examined 129 cycling deaths in Ontario that occurred between 2006 and 2010. They found cyclists who suffered fatal head injuries were 3 times less likely to be wearing a helmet.
The majority of incidents – 77 percent – involved motor vehicle collisions. Researchers concluded that policy changes and education programs aimed at boosting helmet use may help prevent deaths.
The study was published online Oct. 15 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
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