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Football players cautioned not to rush back after a concussion USA TODAY: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2003-11-18-fotball-concussions_x.htm |
| Study links head injuries to
depression....................01/17/2002 A study reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry & conducted by researchers at Duke University found that concussions & other head injuries in early adulthood may significantly raise the risk of depression decades later. New York Times, Associated Press |
| Injury-Control
Recommendations: Bicycle Helmets Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Introduction Summary These recommendations on the use of bicycle helmets are the first in a series of Injury-Control Recommendations that are designed for state and local health departments or other organizations for use in planning injury control programs. Each publication in the series of Injury-Control Recommendations will provide information for program planners to use when implementing injury control interventions. These guidelines were developed for state and local agencies and organizations that are planning programs to prevent head injuries among bicyclists through the use of bicycle helmets. The guidelines contain information on the magnitude and extent of the problem of bicycle-related head injuries and the potential impact of increased helmet use; the characteristics of helmets, including biomechanical characteristics, helmet standards, and performance in actual crash conditions; barriers that impede increased helmet use; and approaches to increasing the use of bicycle helmets within the community. In addition, bicycle helmet legislation and community educational campaigns are evaluated. Introduction Each year, nearly 1,000 persons die from injuries caused by bicycle crashes, and 550,000 persons are treated in emergency departments for injuries related to bicycle riding. Approximately 6% of the bicycle riders treated in emergency departments require hospitalization. Head injuries account for 62% of bicycle-related deaths, for 33% of bicycle-related emergency department visits, and for 67% of bicycle-related hospital admissions. The use of bicycle helmets is effective in preventing head injury (1). Community programs to increase bicycle helmet use can reduce the incidence of head injury among bicycle riders, thereby reducing the number of riders who are killed or disabled. Increasingly, state and local laws are being developed that will make mandatory the use of bicycle helmets. These guidelines were developed for state and local agencies and organizations that are planning programs to prevent head injuries among bicyclists through the use of bicycle helmets. The guidelines are based on a review of literature on bicycle-related injuries, bicycle helmets, and the evaluation of legislation and community programs. The guidelines have been reviewed and approved by the Advisory Committee for Injury Prevention and Control and by other experts in the prevention of bicycle-related injuries. |
| Brain-injury researchers to study thrill
rides.............08/23/2001 The Brain Injury Assn, a nonpartisan research & advocacy group, is launching the first in-depth study into a possible link b/w brain injuries & thrill rides in response to increasing concern over roller coaster safety. Los Angeles Times, Kimi Yoshino |
By FARAH FAROUQUE Tuesday 5 September 2000 It might seem like a fun pursuit, but the scooter epidemic has a sinister side. Kidsafe, the Child Accident Prevention Foundation, has warned the craze will result in more injuries, and even death, if safety is not taken into account. The foundation has called for laws making helmets mandatory for all scooter riders. "If there is legislation for bicycles, there's absolutely no reason why (it) shouldn't apply to these small scooters," said Kidsafe executive officer Ed Szwaja. Mr Szwaja said there had been 69 scooter-related injuries in Victoria this year, 48 involving children under 14. "Scooter riders need helmets to protect them in the case of a fall and potential head, face and brain injuries," Mr Szwaja said. Kidsafe is lobbying the Victorian Government for a change in the law and urging parents who buy scooters for children to also buy helmets, knee and elbow pads as part of the overall package. "In a split second an accident can change the life of a child forever," Mr Szwaja said. "Already we have seen one young girl recently suffer a severe facial injury when a handlebar pierced her cheek after a fall." Mr Szwaja said there had been one confirmed fatality when an Olympic worker on a motorcycle in New South Wales was killed last week after being involved in a collision with a scooter. He said the fatality "had put the community on notice of potential injuries these toys are causing". Kidsafe has concerns about the lightweight structure of the scooters, which, combined with the fact they can travel at significant speeds downhill, made them a "lethal weapon" for riders and pedestrians.
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