Head protection when Cycling: Bicycle helmet and head airbags to protect against injury

Bicycle helmets reduce the risk for fatal brain injuries by up to 70 percent

With the spring weather increases the number of people who ride a bike. Unfortunately, a lot of wear to a few of them a Bicycle helmet. This may decide in case of accidents to the part about life or death. Health experts advise, therefore, to a head protection when Cycling.

Head protection can save lives

Scientific studies have shown that Bicycle helmets can reduce the case of accidents the risk for serious head injuries and massive. According to researchers at the University of New South Wales reported in Australia that the helmets can prevent up to 70 percent of fatal head injuries. Health experts such as the German society for Orthopaedics and trauma surgery (DGOU) to a head protection when Cycling.

Bicycle helmets can reduce the risk of life-threatening head injuries in case of accidents drastically. (Image: half point/fotolia.com)

Too few cyclists wear a helmet

“Every spring is the Start of the Cycling season, the number of the injured Bicycle drivers in our emergency rooms in the level,” explains Prof. Dr. Paul Alfred Grützner, President of the German society for Orthopaedics and trauma surgery (DGOU) and the German society for accident surgery (DGU) in a single message.

“Often the head is affected. Therefore, a helmet on when Cycling!“, the expert advises.

According to the figures, the helmet is a quota carrying across all age groups currently at an average of 18 percent.

“This is too little,” said Dr. Christopher Spering, conductor of the DGOU-section prevention and a senior physician at the clinic for accident surgery, Orthopaedics and plastic surgery at the University medical center Göttingen (UMG).

The reasons why people don’t wear your helmet, be varied. Some may find it unwieldy and cumbersome. Other Bicycle helmets keep for a little fancy or out of fear of ruining their hairstyle.

Head airbag as an Alternative

An Alternative to the traditional bike helmet, the head airbag. This is worn like a kind of frill around the neck.

In the case of an accident, for example, a collision with a passenger car, the Sensors provided with the Airbag, such as a full face helmet inflated and protects the head.

Advantage over the Bicycle helmet, the simultaneous protection of the neck, the spine, the neck, the jaw and the face.

Scientists at the Stanford University (USA), certified by the head airbag in a study of an up to eight-fold lower risk of concussions compared to a helmet.

“The Airbag in an accident, absorbs the impact to the head and stabilizes the cervical spine, so that the dangers of a traumatic brain injury and a whiplash injury of the cervical spine reduce,” explained Spering.

More and more E-Bike riders

As it says in the message, the head airbag in front of the travel around the neck and closes with a zip. Via a push button on the zipper needs to be activated in the case of a charged battery before each ride the security system.

“Many people buy Bikes expensive E-and then save to a head protection. Whether or not an Airbag or a bike helmet – what is crucial is that the head is protected while riding a Bicycle,“ a Bicycle accident researchers and DGOU-prevention expert PD Dr. Christian Juhra from the clinic for accident, Hand and reconstructive surgery at the University hospital of Münster.

Just for E-Bike rider, it is worthwhile to draw a head airbag in the recital.

“Because the periodic Charging of the airbag via a USB cable, which is perceived by some as a disadvantage, without much more effort with the Charging of E-Bikes connect,” explains Juhra.

“This needs the battery to the socket, so that both batteries can be filled in one operation,” says the expert.

More and more older people discover the E-Bike for themselves, as they can be with less effort mobile.

But seniors are particularly vulnerable, as Higher speeds with the simultaneous physical limitations often lead to accidents with serious injuries.

A helmet or head airbags, can mitigate the consequences or prevent injuries. With a well-protected head Cycling is just for seniors, a gain in quality of life and improved health.

Because Cycling strengthens the muscles and supports the flexibility of the joints, especially of knees.

Annually, nearly 80,000 injured cyclists

The DGOU explains, vapours, an activated head airbag, or a Bicycle helmet in case of an accident to the head of the forces acting, that leads to less severe head injuries.

In addition, deadly brain injuries can be reduced by 60 to 70 percent. Data from the trauma register DGU® (TR-DGU) show: the dangerous life of the injured Bicycle drivers is the heavy skull-brain Trauma, the primary injury.

The TR-DGU recorded an annual average of around 2,500 cyclists, which must be supplied after an accident in a trauma center, the Initiative traumanetwork DGU® intensive care – the most serious accidents occur in the period from April to September.

In the year 2017, there were, according to calculations by the Federal Statistical office 14.123 seriously injured and 65.104 slightly injured cyclists. 382 people died in a Bicycle accident. (ad)