Road Cycling - Dangers of Helmets

Warning: this is not uplifting...

I know this is not the ideal forum, but it's the largest audience.

Recently in Australia a young child was found dead; hanged by his/her bicycle helmet on the top bunk
of their bed.

I'm sure it's uncommon, but it's not isolated:

"This is not the first incident where a bicycle helmet has caused the death of a child. Six children in Sweden and one in Lumsden, Saskatchewan, Canada have been hanged by helmets when the straps got tangled on play structures in similar incidents."

http://cycling.gn.apc.org/campaign/helmets.html

Sorry to put a morbid topic on a 'leisure' forum, but it might save some lives.

A US manufacturer has added a warning to helmet labels that a choking hazard could arise if the helmet is used other than for cycling

It isnt talking about bikers.

I guess what we don't know (THIS IS TONGUE IN CHEEK) is: How many children's lives were saved by wearing bicycle helmets on bunk beds?

In conclusion, I don't think any valid conclusion can be made based on the fact that eight children around the world have died from misuse of bicycle helmets.

Apparently that's how Michael Hutchence died. They said it was a belt, but we all know it was a bike helmet.

So don't let the kid go to bed wearing a helmet. Yes, the risk is there, but if you want to get technical we're so surrounded by risks at any given moment, if we paid attention to all of them we'd be debilitated by fear. Freak accidents happen - but having shattered a few helmets myself I believe the benefit of helmets far outweighs any possible risk to children or others.

pay attention to your manuals - at least in my Bell and Giro manuals, it specifically says DO NOT USE HELMET for other things other than cycling.

I know two people who have hit their heads in bike wrecks, one is dead, the other is not, I'll let you guess which one was wearing a helmet. These people are f-ing rediculous. :crash:

This is along the same lines as the onion article I saw a while ago about a toy being recalled because of "3 stupid dead kids" ruining the fun for everybody.

What makes me think that article's nothing more than flamebait's this line:
"While the wearing of helmets may have prevented relatively inconsequential injuries to children, it has never categorically been shown that they have saved a child's life. There is now categoric proof that helmet use can cost children their lives."

I dont think its a concern for bike helmets in general. This incident is tragic but more than likely very rare.

What makes me think that article's nothing more than flamebait's this line:
"While the wearing of helmets may have prevented relatively inconsequential injuries to children, it has never categorically been shown that they have saved a child's life. There is now categoric proof that helmet use can cost children their lives."

Did Al Gore write this?

When I read about choking and a bike helmet, I thought it was another Jan Ullrich article... :D

3 kids died because of misuse of a bike helmet. Yet, there was a car accident here that killed just as many young children, but you never hear a call to ban autos because they kill more people then anything else.

I remember all of the people cut in half by seatbelt stories that were flying around in the 70s when there was a push to get people to wear them. And all of the people getting killed by airbags a few years ago.

It is funny that somehow these things "mysteriously" seemed to stop happening.

This reminds me of The Dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide (http://www.dhmo.org/)! :D

This reminds me of The Dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide!

Penn & Teller's show, Bull****, did a piece on environmental activist groups. They went to this big rally with a petition to have this substance banned.

They wanted to see if these people knew what they were doing. They got tons of signatures, including the event organizers! :D :D :D

Very sad indeed, but as it was earlier said: what about the childrens lives the helmets have saved?
My question is: where were the parents? do they not take any responsability in this? I dont let my kids play around with their safety equipment, and I do make sure their helmets and equipment is fit proper..
In the USA a SUV flips every day, is it the auto maker or is it the driver? too many ifs or whos in this one for me to get started...
Kids drown in swimming pools, is it the pool makers fault, or should a parent had been watching the kids?
Yet a kid finds his dads gun, plays and shoots another kid dead. Who do they blame, no question the dad goes to jail not smith and wesson, tho the fancey lawyers do try to nail the gun makers. There is a case right now here in Fl where a kid was killed and the parent is being tried because it was his gun tho the kids finger is the one that pulled the trigger... sad thing, someone always looks for someone else to blame.
Ride safe everyone and watch the wee ones as its our jobs as parents.

pay attention to your manuals - at least in my Bell and Giro manuals, it specifically says DO NOT USE HELMET for other things other than cycling.


Remember, too, that a bicycle helmet is fatal if swallowed.

Just think of all the kids who have fallen out of bed and wouldn't have been hurt if they were wearing their bicycle helmets.

SO should we ban bike helmuts? play equipment? bunk beds? Or maybe we should ban children, that would be sure to prevent anymore child deaths.....

I think the bunk bed is to blame, not the helmet

Hmmm..... I think your right, We should form a movement to ban bunk beds we could call it the BBB... no thats been taken...

Take a look at the rest of the sight, like the safer then walking page.

Deaths per billion passenger kilometres
car 3
motorcycle 109
pedestrian 54
pedal cycle 45
bus/coach negligible
light goods vehicle 1
rail 0.5
air (UK registered aircraft) 0
marine (UK registered vessels) 0.4

Now if you take a look at the report they took their infomation from (yhttp://www.data-archive.ac.uk/doc/4356/mrdoc/pdf/a4356uab.pdf) you would find that many of the motorcycle, pedal cycle and pedestrian deaths are due to being hit by a car. But the way the infomation is entered is skewed, If a pedestrian is walking down the sidewalk, and a driver jumps the curb, the death would be recorded as a pedestrain death.... makes me want to know who paid for this report? The whole sight is little off.

Statistics unequivocally show that if there are no children, there are no childhood injuries. This is a 100% 1:1 correlation.

Therefore, using a statistics-based decision model, the only sure way to prevent childhood injuries is to ban children.

I am truly surprised that a group somewhere has not seriously suggested this.

Statistics unequivocally show that if there are no children, there are no childhood injuries. This is a 100% 1:1 correlation.

Therefore, using a statistics-based decision model, the only sure way to prevent childhood injuries is to ban children.

I am truly surprised that a group somewhere has not seriously suggested this.

Hey, it it wasn't for accidents there wouldn't be this many children.

Bunk Beds, Helmets, Dihydrogen Monoxide are all bad news, but what about the dangers of gravity? Every time I've fallen it's to blame. Something must be done!

Hey, it it wasn't for accidents there wouldn't be this many children.

*rimshot*

That's exactly the type of accident that scares me most. But then, with a few more crashes involving my top tube, maybe I won't need to worry so much...

pay attention to your manuals - at least in my Bell and Giro manuals, it specifically says DO NOT USE HELMET for other things other than cycling.

Don't tell me that wearing a bike helmet to bed doesn't count as protected sex!

SO should we ban bike helmuts? play equipment? bunk beds? Or maybe we should ban children, that would be sure to prevent anymore child deaths.....

In Canada last year, 62 people died from a fall involving a bed (and 9 from accidentally suffocating or strangulating in bed) -71-...that's more deaths than happen to cyclists.

Yep it happens, people will fall out of bed, trip down stairs, get flower pots droped on them etc. But if you read the link in the first posting you will find this:

"While the wearing of helmets may have prevented relatively inconsequential injuries to children, it has never categorically been shown that they have saved a child's life. There is now categoric proof that helmet use can cost children their lives."

why was the child using a bike helmet in a bunk bed? or for that fact how?

WARNING: living in your house could be hazardous to you and your family! Thats Right folks! You see there have been airplanes and cars crashing into homes and these are not isolated events; it can happen and does everyday. So flee your homes and head to caves in the mountains.

For gods sakes 531Aussie, get a grip dude. Anything and everything can be a hazard to you or your love ones. I guarntee you many more people have been killed in their own homes by a car or airplane then helmets have at hanging people.

Get over the fear and live life.

WARNING: living in your house could be hazardous to you and your family! Thats Right folks! You see there have been airplanes and cars crashing into homes and these are not isolated events; it can happen and does everyday. So flee your homes and head to caves in the mountains.

There was an incident a little over a decade ago whereby a young man distraught over having been dumped by his ex-girlfriend, decided to rent a plane and circle over her house in a tight bank angle while using a megaphone to plead for her to take him back. The only problem was that he was flying a high-wing gravity fed aircraft. He circled so long that he ran the high side tanks dry and lost engine power. The result was him augering directly into the roof of her house. He escaped unhurt as did the occupants of the house. The father of the ex-girlfriend was quoted as saying, "I never liked him anyways."

WARNING: living in your house could be hazardous to you and your family! Thats Right folks! You see there have been airplanes and cars crashing into homes and these are not isolated events; it can happen and does everyday. So flee your homes and head to caves in the mountains.

For gods sakes 531Aussie, get a grip dude. Anything and everything can be a hazard to you or your love ones. I guarntee you many more people have been killed in their own homes by a car or airplane then helmets have at hanging people.

Get over the fear and live life.

I posted the thread right after hearing it on the news. I'd never heard of such a thing; i was a bit shocked and upset. I thought parents should be aware of something that I'm sure most people would never have imagined.

In Canada, on average, 100 people choke to death on ball-point pens every year.

That's it! I'm not wearing a helmet anymore. What if I was riding over abridge and hit a pot hole and flew off my bike rite over the bridge and my helmet got stuck on one of the rails. My god I could suffocate to death :)

Floridians may remember a similar story that had a better ending ;)

Apparently that's how Michael Hutchence died. They said it was a belt, but we all know it was a bike helmet.

I heard Michael Hutchence died in a ************ accident. Accidently hung himself while spanking the monkey.

Every year in Canada an estimated 500 to 700 people die from medication errors while in hospital. That's 10 times the amount of cyclists that die.

************ accident? is nothing safe any more?

I vote this the most sarcastic thread of the year.

Remember, too, that a bicycle helmet is fatal if swallowed.


That's why I chose a helmet with pleanty of vents.

Again, last year in Canada, 236 died from falls on or from stairs or steps.

That's more than 3 times the amount of cyclists that died.

At my job I have the unortunate duty of providing the expert testimony on products liability which includes electrical and hydraulic tools. I recall one day after a case had gone to the jury I was talking to the plaintiffs counsel (my immeadiate enemy) who shared with me his association with a prominent football helmet manufacturer. Apparently, a significant part of the cost of these helmets is insurance and he predicted a real possibility that without government intervention there would be no helmet manufacturers (at least for minors) in ten years. He cited the rates for paralysis and death being consistently high and the reluctance of juries to consider certain things inherently dangerous and the responsibility of the individual. While I certainly agree laughing at extreme examples is dangerous manufacturers don't know what to do other than pass along these costs to us. All these "messages being sent by juries" are ultimately paid for by consumers.

75 people die each year in Canada from accidents involving riding lawnmowers.

(owch!)

How many die each year from testing batteries with their tongues?

How many die each year from testing batteries with their tongues?

Sometimes I have to test my charging system on my car, so I leave the car running and pull a spark plug wire and place the electrode on my tongue...you know, to make sure I'm getting enough spark.

WARNING: do not attempt this at home, I am a professional!

Sometimes I have to test my charging system on my car, so I leave the car running and pull a spark plug wire and place the electrode on my tongue...you know, to make sure I'm getting enough spark.

WARNING: do not attempt this at home, I am a professional!

At a previous employ, we had a guy in our provisioning group who was... well... basically an idiot. He could do no right. He always screwed things up. At first people pitied him and tried to help him out but eventually we all began to realise that it was an exercise in futility. A lot of the times his mistake was thinking he knew enough when he didn't know anything at all.

One day, he was on the end of a T1 install. The telco folks had brought in the wiring and the copper was lit. However, our end of the router had the interface admin'ed down. In a fit of confusion, he called up one of the engineers and asked how one could tell if the T1 was actually turned up and working. The engineer knew him personally and said something to the effect of, "touch the leads to your tongue" not thinking that this person would be dumb enough to do it. You can guess what happened next. The correct answer of course is to use the diagnostic routines on the router itself or to use an actual line tester.

At my job I have the unortunate duty of providing the expert testimony on products liability which includes electrical and hydraulic tools. I recall one day after a case had gone to the jury I was talking to the plaintiffs counsel (my immeadiate enemy) who shared with me his association with a prominent football helmet manufacturer. Apparently, a significant part of the cost of these helmets is insurance and he predicted a real possibility that without government intervention there would be no helmet manufacturers (at least for minors) in ten years. He cited the rates for paralysis and death being consistently high and the reluctance of juries to consider certain things inherently dangerous and the responsibility of the individual. While I certainly agree laughing at extreme examples is dangerous manufacturers don't know what to do other than pass along these costs to us. All these "messages being sent by juries" are ultimately paid for by consumers.

Strange that you can buy a new helmet meeting all safety standards for $29.95 or less.

http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?subcategory=1045&category=91&browse=&storetype=&estoreid=&brand=&searchbox=&start=1&orderby=price1&pagename=

I get tired of these complaints, when litigation is truly a very small part of the cost of doing business. In the meantime, 1000's of products are safer due to court decisions. Of course there are bad examples and poor decisions. There are in all parts of life. But the vast majority of decisions do lead to better(safer) products.





http://www.atla.org/homepage/debunk.aspx

The truth is that businesses are the biggest users and abusers of the legal system. According to the American Bar Association, the number of contract cases (in which businesses often initiate the lawsuit) filed in state courts in 2000 was 50 percent higher than the number of injury cases by individuals. In addition, the number of product liability lawsuits by consumers against businesses declined about 20 percent between 1996 and 2000, the ABA says.

A report by two national consumer groups found that corporate America is hypocritical when it comes to our legal system - seeking to destroy individual rights while "maintaining unfettered access to our nation's courts as their own private playground." The report found that "American businesses often file anti-competitive litigation, designed to intimidate or harass." The complete report by Public Citizen and Citizen Action is available at http://www.atla.org/homepage/NAM.pdf.

At a previous employ, we had a guy in our provisioning group who was... well... basically an idiot. He could do no right. He always screwed things up. At first people pitied him and tried to help him out but eventually we all began to realise that it was an exercise in futility. A lot of the times his mistake was thinking he knew enough when he didn't know anything at all.

One day, he was on the end of a T1 install. The telco folks had brought in the wiring and the copper was lit. However, our end of the router had the interface admin'ed down. In a fit of confusion, he called up one of the engineers and asked how one could tell if the T1 was actually turned up and working. The engineer knew him personally and said something to the effect of, "touch the leads to your tongue" not thinking that this person would be dumb enough to do it. You can guess what happened next. The correct answer of course is to use the diagnostic routines on the router itself or to use an actual line tester.
LOL
Ouch!
I will ocassionally test a 9-volt that way though...

Don't tell me that wearing a bike helmet to bed doesn't count as protected sex!

My foot-board is SPD compatible :D