It should be the law right across Canada for everyone to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle, say pediatricians. Currently four provinces force all riders to wear helmets. They are British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario require children to wear protective head gear.
‘Can’t fix’ a significant brain injury
“The one thing about the brain, unlike a broken wrist, is that the brain doesn’t heal the same way,” says Dr. Natalie Yanchar, chair of the injury prevention committee of the Canadian Paediatric Society. “Once you get a significant brain injury you can’t fix it and the lifelong disabilities from significant brain injuries are huge. So it’s just not worth the risk (to not wear a helmet)”
The use of helmets decreases the risk of head injuries while cycling, confirm systematic reviews. One shows a reduction of 69 per cent. And studies indicate the use of helmets went up in provinces that passed legislation making them mandatory.
Adults should provide the example, says doctor
Helmets are important to protect children’s brains. Adults should wear them too, says Yanchar, to protect their brains but also because children model their behaviour on adults.
People didn’t like seat belts either
Some adults don’t like the idea of being obliged to wear a helmet, but Yanchar says neither did they like laws obliging them to wear seat belts in cars. Now that seat belts are mandatory people have got used to them and don’t complain any more.
Other safety measures governments should consider include separating cyclists from traffic through bike lanes, recommends the Canadian Paediatric Society. It also proposes tax exemptions or rebates to make bike helmets more affordable.
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