THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RECOGNIZES NATIONAL BIKE MONTH AND ENCOURAGES BICYCLE SAFETY AND HELMET USE
~Bicycle Head Injuries Increase the Risk of Death in Children~

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Health (DOH) recognizes National Bike Month as an important opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of safety while cycling. Head injury is the leading cause of death in bicycle crashes and is the most important determinant of bicycle-related death and permanent disability.

The single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes is a helmet. Helmet use reduces the risk of bicycle-related death and injury and also the severity of head injury when a crash occurs. Cycling without a bicycle helmet significantly increases the risk of sustaining a head injury in the event of a crash. Non-helmeted riders are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than helmeted riders.

The DOH Office of Injury Prevention administers the Bicycle Helmet Promotion Program, through a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation. Helmets are purchased and distributed to low-income children with the intent of increasing bicycle helmet use among them. The helmets are distributed through community partner agencies and organizations that have entered into an agreement with the Office of Injury Prevention.

“Wearing a helmet is one of the most effective and low-priced means to avoid a head injury,” said Lisa VanderWerf-Hourigan, Manager of the Office of Injury Prevention. “Last year, the Office of Injury Prevention had 10 county health departments as community partners. This year, we expanded the Bicycle Helmet Promotion Program to 24 additional CHDs in order to reach more children who may need helmets.”

Children are at particularly high risk for bicycle-related injuries. More than 70% of children, ages 5 to 14, (27.7 million) ride bicycles. This age group rides 50% more than the average bicyclist and accounts for approximately 16 percent of all bicycle-related deaths and more than half of all bicycle-related injuries. In 2006, 725 children, ages 14 and younger, were injured or killed on bicycles in Florida.

Bicycles are associated with more childhood injuries than any other consumer product except the automobile. Florida vital statistics and hospital discharge data indicate that from 2001-2005, head injuries accounted for 65% of bicycle-related deaths and 35% of bicycle-related hospital admissions, among children ages 14 and younger in Florida.

DOH promotes, protects and improves the health of all people in Florida. For more information about DOH programs, visit www.doh.state.fl.us