 |
|
Helmet Use
A Survey of 4 Common Childhood Leisure Activities
Samuel N. Forjuoh, MB, ChB, DrPH;
Troy Fiesinger, MD;
John A. Schuchmann, MD;
Saundra Mason, BSN, RN
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002;156:656-661.
Objective To compare the distribution and observation of helmet use patterns among
4 common childhood leisure activities—bicycle riding, in-line skating,
skateboarding, and scooter riding—in a setting with no helmet use legislation.
Design A cross-sectional, unobtrusive, direct observation of children engaged
in 1 of the 4 activities was conducted during an 8-week period.
Setting Eight communities of at least 1000 persons each in a 2-county Central
Texas area.
Main Outcome Measures Prevalence of activity, helmet use, and correct helmet use.
Results Of 841 children observed, most rode bicycles (74.8%); only 4.2% rode
skateboards. They included 127 children estimated to be younger than 6 years
(15.1%) and 495 estimated to be aged between 6 and 12 years (58.9%). Most
were male (67.3%) and observed in urban communities (61.7%). The locations
of highest concentration of the 4 activities were minor streets for bicycle
riding, playgrounds for in-line skating, and sidewalks for skateboarding and
scooter riding. The rate of overall helmet use was 13.6% and did not vary
significantly by activity: in-line skating, 18.2%; skateboarding, 14.3%; bicycle
riding, 13.5%; and scooter riding, 11.5%. However, the observed correct helmet
use prevalence of 72.6% differed significantly by activity. Most children
riding scooters wore their helmets incorrectly. Helmet use was positively
associated with helmet use by accompanying children and/or adults.
Conclusions While bicycle riding was the most popular activity observed, helmet
use was most prevalent among in-line skaters and least prevalent among scooter
riders, many of whom also wore them incorrectly. Observed helmet use was influenced
mostly by adult and peer helmet use, indicating that public education and
interventions should target children and their parents as well as scooter
riders.
From the Departments of Family and Community Medicine (Drs Forjuoh
and Fiesinger and Ms Mason) and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Dr Schuchmann),
Scott and White Memorial Hospital, Scott, Sherwood and Brindley Foundation,
Texas A & M University System Health Science Center, College of Medicine,
Temple.
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Demographic, socioeconomic, and attitudinal associations with children's cycle-helmet use in the absence of legislation
Lang
Inj. Prev. 2007;13:355-358.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Bicycle-Related Injuries to Children and Parental Attitudes Regarding Bicycle Safety
Ortega et al.
CLIN PEDIATR 2004;43:251-259.
ABSTRACT
|
