Rick C Johnson
Jess,
That addresses the problems with studies comparing the effectiveness of
helmets in reducing injury severity in specific cases. However, since
may of the proponents of helmet laws seem fond of citing the public
burden argument are there studies you can reference showing the overall
number of head injury cases relative to each other? Example, for
comparable populations the number of head injuries while bicycling vs
auto accidents vs equestrian activities vs falls in the home, etc?
Rick
Jess Mace wrote:
>Michael-
>I work in the public health and epidemiology realm and this is the main
>problem with helmet advocacy...there is NO real data concerning head
>trauma in the ED and helmet usage...
>this is because it is extremely unethical to establish a well powered
>epidemiologic study as it would require slamming people's head into the
>ground with and without helmets in a prospective
>cohort study or double blind randomized control study at various rates
>of speed...would you sign up to be in it?
>
>This fact is what opponents of helmet legislation use on a regular
>basis, without recognizing the fact such data is impossible to collect
>or accurately measure. all we have in anecdotal accounts and some
>times in public health policy, that is enough to swing the tide.
>
>There are a few studies out there regarding decreased traumatic brain
>injuries in children after helmet laws are enacted, but they're not
>widely referenced due to measurement errors and biased selection
>criteria if I remember correctly...the authors recognize that it is a
>VERY difficult thing to measure (too many variable to enact a TBI).
>
>
>
>
>
>Jess C. Mace
>Clinical Outcomes Research Coordinator
>for Timothy Smith, MD, MPH
>Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
>Oregon Health & Science University
>503.494.5886
>
>
>
>>>>"Michael O'Hair" 2/26/2008 6:37 PM >>>
>>>>
>>>>
>I'll add my two cents to this.
>
>I have seen many, many "family groups" where the kids are wearing
>helments and one or more adults are not. I believe this sets up an
>image problem: helmets are for kids. I have told a couple of grown ups
>that it's hard to be a parent when you've taken a serious hit in the
>head.
>
>On the other hand, I have seen far too many people who have donned
>their helmet and obviously equated it with some sort of magic armor that
>allowed them to ride between traffic and parked cars at 4 MPH, blithely
>unaware of their surroundings and the physics behind getting run down by
>a 4000 pound car.
>
>It is my opinion that the term "skid lid" definitely applies to bicycle
>helmets. They are good for minor accidents, but when the plastic hits
>the asphalt at speed (30 MPH or more), not even a Snell Approved
>motorcycle helmet can guarantee much beyond "..Well, it would have been
>worse without a helmet."
>
>The problem is simply one of common sense: riding in traffic raises
>the risk of wrecks, therefore wearing a helmet helps shave the odds a
>bit. Unfortunately, legislatures do no deal in common sense. Case in
>point, Hawaii was going to outlaw 2-piece wheels on cars until someone
>pointed out that almost all cars came equipped with 2-piece wheels.
>
>Who out in OBRA-land has the actual data? How many people on bicycles
>suffer non-superficial head injuries (defined as requiring admission to
>a hospital) with and without helmets?
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: john
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 5:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Helmets will be mandatory in Vancouver, WA
>
>
> I know this is just a sliver of arguments for and against but
>personally i think we should require helmet use for any sort of vehicle
>because most auto accidents involve head injury to the occupants. Plus I
>know when i slap on a helmet and drive, I feel more secure and safe
>(subconsciously or not) and so i drive a little more
>reckless(subconsciously or not).
>
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