Most injured kids lacked bike helmets

Over the past five years, 73 percent of children admitted to two St. Paul, Minnesota, hospitals for bike related injuries were not wearing helmets at the time of their accidents. "The rate is likely higher, given that helmet use was undetermined for 27 patients" out of the 150 children hospitalized, Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist Jeremy Olsen reported on April 8.

He cited data for 150 children treated at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare and Regions Hospital.

"Half of the trauma injuries involved children 12 to 16 (mostly boys). And out of this rebellious group, only four of the 79 injured youths wore helmets. (The data excluded children treated and released from hospitals for minor injuries. It only involved the trauma cases: skull fractures, facial fractures, traumatic brain injuries, concussions and lacerations to the face and scalp that required hospital admissions)," Olsen wrote.

He added, "That adolescent age is when kids will start to bike farther from home, and take a few more risks when it comes to wearing helmets or popping wheelies. Parents in that age group should take extra caution, even if their kids have been loyal helmet users in the past."