Head Injury Prevention

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Head Injury PreventionBicycle Safety

• Elias Dakwar
• CHIC Project
• August 04

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Background

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and
  Prevention, brain injury is the leading cause of
  death and disability among children and
  adolescents.
• Transportation-related incidents are the leading
  cause of brain injury.

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Background

• Bicycles are associated with more childhood
  injuries than any other consumer product except
  the automobile.
• Head injury is the leading cause of death in
  bicycle crashes and is the most important
  determinant of bicycle-related death and
  permanent disability.

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Helmets

• The single most effective safety device available
  to reduce head injury and death from bicycle
  crashes is a helmet. 
• A bicycle helmet can prevent 85 percent of
  bicyclists head injuries.
• It is estimated that 75 percent of fatal head
  injuries among child bicyclists could be
  prevented with a bicycle helmet.

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Helmets

• Unfortunately, national estimates report that
  bicycle helmet use among child bicyclists ranges
  only from 15 to 25 percent. 
• The total annual cost of traffic-related
  bicyclist death and injury among children ages 14
  and under is more than 2.2 billion.
• Every dollar spent on a bike helmet saves
  society 30 in direct medical costs and other
  costs to society.

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Project

• Project aims to educate the community, both
  children (ages 6-9) and parents, about the risks
  of head injury and prevention with a focus on
  bicycle safety.
• Educational workshop at Health Summit in JOSANA
  neighborhood.
• Educational workshop and Bike Rodeo at Edgerton
  Recreational Center.
• Distribute and Fit Free Bicycle Helmets.
• Handouts and information on prevention and
  management of falls for parents.

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Engaging a child at JOSANA Health Summit in new
Drop-in-Center about Head Injury Prevention and
Bicycle Safety.
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Fitting a child for a free new bicycle helmet,
while other children are working on activity
sheets about helmets and bicycle safety.