By: Ningning Zhang

Ningning Zhang — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 04:19:00 +0000

This is a very interesting event. As it mentioned, bicycle accident is one of the major killers of children in the United States. Jewett in her study stated that from 2010 to 2013, the deaths relating to bicycle increased almost 20 percent. She also pointed out the highest risk of death and disability to bicycle riders is head injury (Jewett, Beck, Taylor, &Baldwin, 2016). However, despite the high rate death relating to head injury to bicyclist, the rate of bicycle helmet wearing is still very low. Less than 50% children and adults always wear helmets when they are riding (Jewett, et al, 2016). This event is helpful to educate the community about the importance of helmet in reducing head injury. It does not just educate those children who ride, it also educates those children’s parents, who play a significant role in helmet wearing. If parents wear helmets when they are riding, there is more likely that their children will wear helmet. So, encouraging adults to wear helmet will help children to wear helmet.
As nurses, what can we do to increase helmet wearing of children and adults? First, it is important to understand the barriers of bicycle helmet use. Most of time, children are lack of knowledge of the importance of helmet use. For the adults or parents, they feel “helmet looks ridiculous” (Lajunen, 2016). Second, it is significant for nurses to realize where they can educate community. Schools are always good choices. With help from teachers or instructors in schools, children can be educated about the importance of helmet very well. Children are always influenced by their peers greatly, so if all students know the importance of helmet, the rate of helmet use will increase greatly among children. In the pediatric offices or in the pediatric unit in the hospital, nurses can educate both child and parent together. If parents wear helmet, their children will wear helmet more likely. Also, nurses should be aware that policy makers cam play important role in the helmet use. “Children who lived in states with a child bicycle helmet law were more likely to always wear helmet (47%) than those who lived in states without a law (39%)” (Jewett, et al, 2016).
References
Jewett, A., Beck, L. F., Taylor, C., & Baldwin, G. (2016). Bicycle helmet use among persons 5years and older in the United States, 2012. Journal Of Safety Research, 591-7.
Lajunen, T. (2016). Barriers and facilitators of bicycle helmet use among children and their parents. Transportation Research Part F: Psychology And Behaviour, 41(Part B), 294-301.

Comments on: Nurses, Partners Help Kids Stay Safe on Wheels

By: Ningning Zhang