On the beaten path

But that’s fine. I’m not about to tell everyone behind the wheel they have to switch to pedal power. Heck, I’ve not abandoned my own set of keys, and you’ll still see me driving around the block more often than not.

It’s those on the bikes I want to give a shout-out to. Besides saying, “Good for you, save the planet for the rest of us, and save some bucks for yourself,” I also want to say, “Where the heck is your helmet?”

According to the National Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2006, 767 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles. Of that number, 730 were not wearing bike helmets. Ninety-five percent.

According to Safe Kids USA, bicycle helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent and the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent. Bicycle helmets have also been shown to offer substantial protection to the forehead and mid-face.

They estimate that 75 percent of bicycle-related fatalities among children could be prevented with a bicycle helmet.

In New York state, bicyclists have to wear helmets until the age of 14. They can chose to be stupid after that. And, unfortunately, too many of our North Country bicyclists are stupid. We’re seeing way too many people on bikes not wearing helmets.

What’s even more disturbing is the number of parents out riding with their children who are not wearing helmets. It’s not enough for the kids to wear ’em. Mom, Dad, you need to be wearing yours, too. What kind of example are you setting for your children when you make sure they’re protecting their noggins but you either can’t be bothered or don’t want to ruin a good hair day to put on your own?

You’re telling your kids that they’re wearing their helmets because the law says they have to — but don’t worry, when you get to be our age, you don’t. When your son or daughter turns 14 and takes off for the first time without a helmet, what are you going to say when the police come to your door and tell you your child had massive head trauma – or worse, died from injuries sustained – because he wasn’t protecting his head? Are you going to tell the police it’s OK because he didn’t legally have to be wearing one?

Dr. Jeannie Ryan, director of the Traumatic Brain Injury Center at Plattsburgh State, said, “The message that is communicated is that your brain is only vulnerable up to age 14, then all is okay after that. But, a sudden impact or accident can happen to anyone, at any time, at any age.”

She said a helmet doesn’t always stop the brain from being injured, “but it significantly reduces the potential severity of the injury. Helmets have to be worn correctly, though. Many times I see children with the helmet resting on the back of the head leaving the forehead completely exposed. That’s a serious mistake, and the helmet will have minimal benefit.”

According to Ryan, the brain can heal following a traumatic injury, “and to the average observer all may seem well, but sometimes there continues to be a residual loss — e.g., problems with word finding, concentration and attention, decreased stamina, impulsive responding — known to the individual (but not always) and family members very close to the injured person.”

When people first started wearing bike helmets in the early 1980s, they looked stupid. Well, guess what? Everybody’s looking stupid now, so you have nothing to worry about.

It’s great that you’re saving gas and saving the environment and getting some exercise to boot. Save yourself, too. Put on your helmet.