Bike Head Injuries

Bike accidents have caused more injuries to children than almost any other consumer product. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 70 percent of children ride bikes on a regular basis. With that many bikes in use, it is inevitable that accidents can and will occur. Because of the lack of protection and vulnerability of bicyclists to hard contact with roads and other vehicles, many bike accidents result in head injury.

• Biking

Significance

• Bike head injuries are especially concerning because of the devastating consequences that can result from any head injury. Any type of blow, jolt or other injury to the head can result in disruption or trauma to the normal function of the brain, which in turn can cause a traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries can be fatal if not identified and treated promptly.

Types

• Bike head injuries can range in severity from mild, such as scratches and bruises, to severe, such as a concussion or brain injury. Mild bike head injuries may cause only a headache or a brief loss of consciousness. Severe bike head injuries, however, can result in concussion, extended periods of unconsciousness or even amnesia.

Identification

• Identifying bike head injuries can be difficult. The most common symptoms include a loss of consciousness, confusion, headache, dizziness, fatigue, blurry vision or sometimes even a metallic taste in the mouth. Some people with bike injuries also experience sudden mood changes and difficulty in thinking or speaking. The severity of the symptoms appears to depend upon the extent of the injury. Regardless of the severity of the symptoms, a medical professional should always be consulted to identify and treat the injury.

Effects

• The prognosis for a bike head injury patient depends upon the severity of the injury, as well as the age and general health of the patient. Permanent bike head injuries can include loss of memory function and problems with thinking, concentration or speaking. More serious effects include coma or a persistent vegetative state.

Prevention/Solution

• One of the easiest and most common ways of preventing a bike head injury is to simply wear a helmet. Statistics show that wearing a helmet reduces the severity of injuries sustained in bike accidents. Proper fit and placement of the helmet is also crucial to avoiding injury. Besides protective gear, all bicyclists, regardless of age, should learn to understand and obey all rules of the road.