Seattle’s Ounce Of Prevention More Than Half Of City’s Kids Wear Bike Helmets

Each year, close to 250 young people die from brain injuries suffered in bicycling accidents. Those deaths are particularly sad, physicians say, because a simple preventive measure - the bicycle helmet - is affordable and effective, though not heavily promoted.

But in this city, where even the buses are equipped with bike racks, about 60 percent of all children wear helmets, up from only 1 percent 10 years ago. Child-safety advocates credit a strong promotional campaign for the increase, and say they want to see a similar nationwide effort.

A coordinated national campaign would save more lives than any injury-prevention tactic available, according to a report last year from the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center in Seattle, which found scant helmet promotion efforts in cities like New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles.

A coalition of doctors, bicyclists and child advocates has worked together in Seattle to convince parents that biking without helmets is dangerous for children. With discount coupons and the lure of free french fries, the group helped outfit children with affordable helmets.

Then, with the help of local sports figures and ticket giveaways, the coalition persuaded kids to wear them. The number of bike-related head injuries and deaths in the city has declined by two-thirds over 10 years.

Nationally, only about 15 percent of children wear helmets, and the rate is far lower for teenagers and for young people in poor or urban communities. A study in the November issue of Pediatrics estimated that if all children wore bike helmets, 184 deaths and 116,000 head injuries would be prevented annually.

“There’s no reason why other kids around the country shouldn’t be helmeted and protected,” said Dr. Fred Rivara, director of the Harborview center.