AAP: Helmets Enormously Reduce Risks of Traumatic Brain Injury When Riding Bike or Doing Other Sports

Helmets AAP American Academy of Pediatrics Lois K. Lee Factors Influencing Helmet Use Head Injury

By Camille Hutchison , Parent Herald Aug 22, 10:50 am

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) studied the benefits of helmet use and encourages its use, according to the updated policy statement released in the September 2022 Pediatrics.

Helmets do save lives and surely diminish the risks of severe injury, according to Lois K. Lee, M.D., MPH, FAAP, lead author of the statement written by the AAP Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention. The pediatric emergency medicine physician encouraged all patients and children to wear helmets, especially when riding a bike or any sports, as sports-related injuries had a substantial proportion of traumatic brain injuries.

According to the research, it has been shown that injury rates from recreational sports among participants five years and older are higher, most specifically for children ages 5 to 14 years and 15 to 24. Therefore, it has been found that bicycle riding is one of the leading causes of sport-related head injuries in pediatrics, resulting in approximately 26,000 emergency visits every year.

According to Cleveland Clinic, bike riders must wear helmets because annually in the United States, around 800 bicyclists die, and nearly 500,000 end up in hospital emergency rooms due to severe injuries and trauma they sustain. These are 2/3 of the deaths, while 1/3 of the injuries mostly involve the head and face. Thus, wearing a helmet can reduce head injury by as much as 85 percent.

Lowering the risk of any injury especially traumatic brain injury

Participating in recreational sports is one of the most common reasons a child sustains a head injury. These are snow sports like skiing and snowboarding. Thus, wearing a helmet can diminish the risk of traumatic brain injury while enjoying such activities. A study called "Factors Influencing Helmet Use, Head Injury, and Hospitalization Among Children Involved in Skateboarding and Snowboarding Accidents," which involved skateboarders and snowboarders below 18, showed that more than half or 52 percent of pediatric patients injured were found not wearing a helmet.

On the other hand, AAP emphasized data from 2012 that showed only 42 percent of children aged 5 to 17 wore a helmet while riding a bicycle, while 31 percent never did.

According to Brevard Health Alliance, choosing what helmet suits or fits properly is important as heads are usually the first body parts to become injured. Thus, wearing a helmet that fits a child can protect both the head and brain and prevent possible external and internal damage. Wearing helmets for children are important as it will serve as protection, considering that their brains are still developing.

Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics

AAP suggested wearing a helmet designed for the sport they will be participating as helmets are not made the same. Thus, children, teenagers, and adults must always wear a helmet that fits while doing any recreational sports.

For kids to wear a helmet, AAP recommends children design their own helmets as it will promote wearing one. Children can decorate their helmets with reflective stickers and lights to help the rider's visibility when riding a bike or doing any sports.

The AAP advised not to use any second-hand helmets as these will not offer any protection from any accidents, and helmet involved in any crash should be replaced.

Dr. Lee said they love seeing children riding on bikes and enjoying physical activities while wearing a helmet. Parents must encourage their kids to make helmets part of their routine, like wearing seatbelts, and tell kids that they can decorate or personalize their helmets.

The lead author added that the families who wear helmets together are safe together, per Parents.