20 More Cyclists To Be Hospitalized This Week



Cycling is one of the most common causes of serious sports injuries – many of which can be prevented by a simple change in behaviour

With summer around the corner, British Columbians are taking advantage of the envied West Coast lifestyle by heading outdoors to enjoy the sunshine on bicycles. They’re expecting to enjoy themselves – but not expecting to fall off their bikes or be seriously injured.

Preventing the injury can be as simple as wearing a helmet. Reminding everyone to practice bike safety, Preventable is hanging helmets in key areas of downtown Vancouver – Coal Harbour, English Bay, Stanley Park and along the city`s seawalls, this weekend.

“The key to reducing serious injuries is behaviours and attitudes; a simple decision to wear a helmet can save your life,” says Dr. Ian Pike, spokesperson for Preventable. “Nobody wakes up expecting to get hurt, but it does happen. Think before you act – helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by 88% if worn properly while cycling.”

Cycling is one of the most common causes of serious sports injuries, with more than 1,000 cycling-related injuries requiring hospitalization – that’s 20 cyclists hospitalized per week.

Each year in Canada, approximately 800 children are hospitalized for cycling injuries each summer and 9 die. Head injury is the most common cause of death, disability and serious injury in child bicyclists who crash. For parents, this means educating children about proper bike safety and decision-making, and supervising them while out on the road, even near home. Cycling injury statistics for children are frightening:
  

·       In BC, serious cycling injuries are most prevalent among children aged 10-14 years. In 2007 alone, there were over 170 bicycle-related injuries to those aged 10-14 years

·       On average each year, 400 children and youth aged 0-19 are hospitalized due to cycling injury

·       Bicycle injuries account for 10% of all paediatric traumatic deaths

“Nobody wishes to lose a loved one, especially a child, due to injury that could have been prevented,” says Pike. “Summertime is an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and be active with family and friends – not to be hospitalized, suffering from fractures, or worse.”

From a healthcare perspective, the numbers are just as interesting:

·       For every $1 spent on a helmet, there is a subsequent savings $29 in injury costs

·       Total direct and indirect cost for cycling-related injury in BC is estimated at $85 million

Most injuries suffered by bicyclists are fractures, dislocations and other non-life-threatening injuries, but head injuries are typically the most dangerous. Even a "minor" head injury can have serious long-term consequences. And don’t forget – helmets are equally important in activities such as skateboarding, rollerblading and rollerhockey.

Preventable is the first-ever organization to undertake a province-wide social marketing strategy focusing on preventable injuries. Using integrated advertising, guerrilla marketing activities and social media, Preventable asks people to adjust their behaviours by thinking before they act, remembering to exercise preventative measures at all times whether on the road, at work, home, play or in water.

Go out and have fun – just be safe!

To learn more about bicycle safety and preventable injuries, visit www.preventable.ca