The recent Emergency Services Bike Rodeo event at the Civic Centre attracted enthusiastic children interested in testing their bicycling skills.
The children were quizzed on safety and their bicycles and wheels were tested as well. While the experience was a fun one for the children who took part, there was a serious undertone.
The reality is that cycling accidents do happen and are a leading cause of injury and it’s never too early to learn about the proper things people need to do when using a bike. A big issue identified by the volunteers participating was the need for people to get in the habit of using bicycle helmets when they use a bike.
Prairie North Health Region has provided a sobering list of statistics from various sources illustrating the issue. Those are listed below and serve as a reminder about the need to stay safe on the road and follow proper safety procedures:
• In Saskatchewan between 1995 and 2004, 1,058 children under age 19 were hospitalized with cycling injuries. One of every three of these children suffered a head injury. (Saskatchewan Health, 2007)
• Children between 10 and 19 have the highest rate of hospitalization from cycling-related head and other injuries compared to all other age groups. (Saskatchewan Health, 2007)
• Children under 19 counted for over half (63 per cent) of cycling-related hospitalizations in Saskatchewan between 1995 and 2004. (Saskatchewan Health, 2007)
• Four of five cycling-related deaths in Saskatchewan are associated with head injuries. (Saskatchewan Health, 2007)
• Eight children in Saskatchewan under age of 20 died between 1995 and 2004 due to cycling injuries.(Saskatchewan Health, 2007) This counted for almost half of all cycling-related deaths in Saskatchewan. (Saskatchewan Health, 2007)
• In 2009, Saskatchewan was rated poor on bicycle helmet legislation. (Canadian Pediatric Society, 2009)
• According to the Canadian Community Health Survey, 11.4 million Canadians over age 12 cycle and 46 per cent of them said they have never worn a helmet. (Canadian Community Health Survey, 2009)
• In 2009, 30.6 per cent of cyclists between 12 and 19 in Canada wore a helmet when cycling. In Saskatchewan, the number was only 17 per cent. (Canadian Community Health Survey, 2009)
• Cyclists between 12 and 19 in Saskatchewan were also least likely to wear a bicycle helmet of all age groups. (Canadian Community Health Survey, 2009)
• In 2009, 37 per cent of Canadians always wore a bicycle helmet when cycling. Four provinces in Canada have bicycle helmet legislation for all ages and helmet use rates in these provinces are above the national average. Saskatchewan has no bicycle helmet legislation and helmet use rates are well below the national average with only 22 per cent of people always wearing a helmet when they cycle. (Canadian Community Health Survey, 2009)
• Helmet use reduces the risk of head and brain injury up to 85 per cent. (Thompson DC, Rivara F, Thompson R, 2009)
• Cycling-related incidents were the leading cause of summer sport and recreation-related injuries in Canada with 43 per cent of major trauma admissions in 2004-05. (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2007)
