A national study of traumatic brain injury and wheel-related sports

The National SAFE KIDS Campaign sought to contribute to the field of injury prevention by creating a better understanding of wheel-related brain injury and the necessity of helmet use. To do so, SAFE KIDS conducted a two-part study exploring the incidence of and the attitudes, behaviours and consequences related to traumatic brain injury (TBI). Due to the availability of data on bike-related injuries, SAFE KIDS first analyzed national trauma data with the following questions in mind: What percentage of children seriously injured in a bike crash are diagnosed with a TBI? Are children of a certain age more likely to suffer a TBI? To learn more about kids’ behaviours when riding all wheeled sports, SAFE KIDS commissioned a national survey of “tweens” to find out: How much do kids know about brain injury? How often do they wear their helmets? If they are not wearing them, why not? SAFE KIDS’ research indicates that TBI is a common result of a serious bike crash. Unfortunately, young people underestimate the risks they take in wheeled sports, as indicated by their failure to wear helmets regularly. However, kids themselves report that adults can do more to ensure helmet use among children.