I know we all have a lot on our plates with CV-19, but I have a bone to pick…. As I drive around, I see scores of young kids riding bikes, skateboards and scooters without helmets on. Not only is this very dangerous, in some cases, it is also illegal. For instance;
• NH: State law requires all riders under 16 years of age to wear a helmet when on a bicycle.
• Maine: State law requires all riders under 16 years of age to wear a helmet when on a bicycle.
• Mass: State law requires all riders under 17 years of age to wear a helmet when on a bicycle. In addition to bicycles, all youth under 17 are also
required to wear a helmet when on scooters, skateboards, and inline skates.
Yes, I know we all rode without helmets when we were kids and we survived, but we also didn’t know what we know now about concussions and the long-term effects of brain injuries and we didn’t have statewide laws requiring helmets on kids!
As a risk manager for 30 years, EMT for 10, and a 20-year veteran volunteer with New England Disabled Sports, I have seen the struggles that kids with brain injuries face and the guilt and heartbreak of the parents who didn’t think their kids needed helmets either. It is hard to describe the devastation, but you can trust me when I say; you do not want to get that call that your child is in ER with a brain injury because of a traumatic fall from a bike, skateboard, or scooter.
More and more kids are on bikes now and more and more people are on their cell phones when driving, so why take the chance. Helmets are the best protection kids have from traumatic brain injuries so, PUT A LID ON THEM!!!!
Additional information
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/newsroom/news-releases/2018/06/bike-injuries-study
https://www.nh.gov/dot/programs/bikeped/documents/nhdot_bike_safety_brochure_bw.pdf
https://www.maine.gov/mdot/bikeped/docs/bike&ped-laws.pdf
https://www.massbike.org/laws