AIBU to think that children should wear helmets whilst scooting

[Talkwhilstyouwalk]

Most children I see riding bikes wear a helmet, but loads of children on scooters do not! Is riding a bike considered more dangerous than riding a scooter? AIBU to think that my (otherwise very sensible) friends who let their children scoot to school without a helmet are risking their children's safety? I get that helmets can be a faff and wearing one messes up my daughters hair, but I'm very firm that if she refuses to wear her helmet then she's walking! Bit embarrassed that we had a showdown about this in front of another mum who lets her child scoot helmet free.

[Impier]

I think kids are more likely to have an accident on scooters than on bikes because of the small wheels. They are less able to deal with rough paths. I also think that anyone using bikes or scooters in pavements should be going at a similar speed to other pavement users, so don't make my kids wear helmets as long as they control their speed.

[Talkwhilstyouwalk]

@Prisonbreak

I borrowed a friends scooter when I was about 16 and played in her back garden. I tripped, fell and broke 4 bones in my foot (I wasn’t wearing shoes admittedly) ripped a ton of skin from my shin and smashed my elbow quite badly. I also went into shock on route to the hospital. No head injury though so a helmet wouldn’t have changed the outcome.

Crikey, maybe I should enforce knee pads and elbow pads.....not sure we'd ever get out the door though 😑

[FoxgloveBee]

Not sure about the danger compared to cycling, but my daughter goes at some speed. She always wears a helmet and if she's off conquering the skate park or one of the local hill trails, gloves, elbow and knee pads too.

[SnackSizeRaisin]

It's a personal decision but helmets are not a panacea. They are unlikely to be of any use if you get hit by a car and they are a strangulation risk if worn on climbing frames. Cycling and scooting are generally safe activities, it seems a bit irrational to me to insist on a helmet for all scooting on cycling but not use one for walking, running or in the car, where head injuries also frequently occur. It does depend on the type of activity as obviously slow scooting from a to b has a lower risk of falling off than mountain biking or doing stunts. But helmet wearing may make someone less careful as they think they are safe, thereby increasing the risk. The extra weight of the helmet also increases the forces on the neck in an accident and makes it more likely that the head hits the ground. These factors are even more if an issue in very young children. Enforced helmet wearing might put young people off cycling or scooting which is going to be more detrimental overall than the tiny risk of a significant head injury. Plus a helmet is no use unless it fits properly. Many children seem to wear them pushed right back on their head which is likely to lead to neck injuries and doesn't protect against forehead injuries which are the most common. The front of the helmet should be just above the eyebrows and stay on without needing the strap.
Yes there are circumstances where I would enforce wearing a helmet, but it's a risk benefit analysis rather than a no brainer. (See what I did there)
The benefits are not proven, which is different to the situation with seat belts or extended rear facing cat seats for example, which have a strong evidence base behind them

[Talkwhilstyouwalk]

@Impier

I think kids are more likely to have an accident on scooters than on bikes because of the small wheels. They are less able to deal with rough paths. I also think that anyone using bikes or scooters in pavements should be going at a similar speed to other pavement users, so don't make my kids wear helmets as long as they control their speed.

Yes, totally agree about the speed they go on pavements. We have some downhill paths where we are that tend not to be too busy, so some quite high speeds can be met!!

[CharlieChickenson]

Another that knows a child who went over he handle bars of a scooter and ended up in hospital. Only the helmet saved him from a worse injury. He was in for a few days with a nasty concussion.

[tunnocksreturns2019]

I’m, er, 42, fell off DD’s adult scooter in the park two weeks ago - I was riding safely, honest! And I’m very fit (normally). Arm badly broken, expected to heal in 3 whole months. I’m the only adult in this house so it’s a total pain, and scooters and I are over.

[HollyHardcastle]

No helmet no scooter here too. My 4yo got distracted when he was scooting and rode straight into a metal fence. He still got a bruise on his head but it would have been SO much worse if he hadn't had a helmet on.

[Lollypop4]

Mine always have and always will.
No helmet on ( Bikes, skateboards or scooters) then they don't go out
Never have mine complained about wearing one.

A friends daughter went on a skateboard a few years ago, she had never been on one before, literally skated for less than 2mins- hit a stone and smashed her head on pavement- Result was a week in a coma, bleed on brain, fractured skull
she was in hospital for 2months
The family have done big rallys across the country - Skateparks ect, to advertise the dangers of no helmet!

[Talkwhilstyouwalk]

@SnackSizeRaisin

It's a personal decision but helmets are not a panacea. They are unlikely to be of any use if you get hit by a car and they are a strangulation risk if worn on climbing frames. Cycling and scooting are generally safe activities, it seems a bit irrational to me to insist on a helmet for all scooting on cycling but not use one for walking, running or in the car, where head injuries also frequently occur. It does depend on the type of activity as obviously slow scooting from a to b has a lower risk of falling off than mountain biking or doing stunts. But helmet wearing may make someone less careful as they think they are safe, thereby increasing the risk. The extra weight of the helmet also increases the forces on the neck in an accident and makes it more likely that the head hits the ground. These factors are even more if an issue in very young children. Enforced helmet wearing might put young people off cycling or scooting which is going to be more detrimental overall than the tiny risk of a significant head injury. Plus a helmet is no use unless it fits properly. Many children seem to wear them pushed right back on their head which is likely to lead to neck injuries and doesn't protect against forehead injuries which are the most common. The front of the helmet should be just above the eyebrows and stay on without needing the strap.
Yes there are circumstances where I would enforce wearing a helmet, but it's a risk benefit analysis rather than a no brainer. (See what I did there)
The benefits are not proven, which is different to the situation with seat belts or extended rear facing cat seats for example, which have a strong evidence base behind them

It was only when my daughter got a new helmet that I realised that the other one was not fitted optimally. This one fits as you describe and doesn't move up to the top of her forehead like the other one did!

[Helenluvsrob]

If mine were small they would now. Eldest best mate has a depressed Harry potter scar after scouting into the park gate at speed ( they are late 20s now).

It’s one of those “ I don’t care what trevors mum does this is what our family does “ rules. You will find there are many of these as time goes on 😂

[Mumtothelittlefella]

No helmet, no scooter here. Or skateboard or hoverboard for that matter. You have one head. It’s completely different to running around a play ground. You only need to smack your head once on hard ground at speed to regret your decision. And mine have done it loads of times - how we’ve not had any broken bones I don’t know but plenty of bruises and bumps and cuts and scrapes. Mine are full on though and throw themselves into scootering.

[Talkwhilstyouwalk]

@tunnocksreturns2019

I’m, er, 42, fell off DD’s adult scooter in the park two weeks ago - I was riding safely, honest! And I’m very fit (normally). Arm badly broken, expected to heal in 3 whole months. I’m the only adult in this house so it’s a total pain, and scooters and I are over.

Seen lots of adults on scooters of late 😃! I'd that a new thing?

[Talkwhilstyouwalk]

*is not I'd

[Lollypop4]

' Don't be vain, protect your Brain' campaign.
www.google.com/amp/s/www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/helmet-wearing-conversation-needs-had-11990123.amp

[PinkElephant7]

It's up to the parent for both bikes and scooters. Cycle helmets are not a legal requirement in the UK and the evidence on whether they make a difference is inconclusive. It's about the level of risk. My DS hasn't worn a helmet on his scooter because he isn't in a situation where he is any more likely to have an accident than if he is walking.

[Blueskydrink]

Mine always wear helmets on their scooters. No discussion.

[PinkElephant7]

@NewPapaGuinea

It’s also about normalising wearing helmets. My DS always wears a helmet and just does it. Like wearing a seatbelt, should just be something they do.

If this was true, it would be a legal requirement.

[PerhapsCarriageGreen]

DD went over the handlebars of her scooter aged 4. She hit a stone on the path and despite wearing a helmet still got concussion. I'd been fairly lax till that point, but always afterwards. It could have been much worse. She wasn't even going that fast!

[LimaFoxtrotCharlie]

@SnackSizeRaisin

It's a personal decision but helmets are not a panacea. They are unlikely to be of any use if you get hit by a car and they are a strangulation risk if worn on climbing frames. Cycling and scooting are generally safe activities, it seems a bit irrational to me to insist on a helmet for all scooting on cycling but not use one for walking, running or in the car, where head injuries also frequently occur. It does depend on the type of activity as obviously slow scooting from a to b has a lower risk of falling off than mountain biking or doing stunts. But helmet wearing may make someone less careful as they think they are safe, thereby increasing the risk. The extra weight of the helmet also increases the forces on the neck in an accident and makes it more likely that the head hits the ground. These factors are even more if an issue in very young children. Enforced helmet wearing might put young people off cycling or scooting which is going to be more detrimental overall than the tiny risk of a significant head injury. Plus a helmet is no use unless it fits properly. Many children seem to wear them pushed right back on their head which is likely to lead to neck injuries and doesn't protect against forehead injuries which are the most common. The front of the helmet should be just above the eyebrows and stay on without needing the strap.
Yes there are circumstances where I would enforce wearing a helmet, but it's a risk benefit analysis rather than a no brainer. (See what I did there)
The benefits are not proven, which is different to the situation with seat belts or extended rear facing cat seats for example, which have a strong evidence base behind them

Excellent post

[Talkwhilstyouwalk]

@Thebookswereherfriends

www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/head-trauma-broken-bones-spinal-1884655
Incidences are obviously lower, but the injuries can be just as severe as on a bike. If your kid is used to wearing a helmet on a bike it’s really no more difficult to get them to wear one on a scooter.

'And this year so far, the children’s Major Trauma Centre has treated as many serious injuries related to scooters as bicycles.'

Wow 😮!!

[mightbealittlebitmad]

Mine wears a helmet 99% of the time on his scooter, always on the school run and most of the time pootling around outside the house but there has been the odd occasion he hasn't.

He still managed to mash his face in wearing a helmet and his little brother did the same on his bike with a helmet on so it's always wise to make them wear one.

I never did and I am incredibly lucky I never did any damage. I used to do some stupid stuff on my rollerblades/bike without a helmet and it's amazing I survived.

[Looooona]

I’m a nanny and totally prefer children to wear helmets when on scooters but parents do not seem to encourage it. I worked in Canada and all parents made children wear helmets on scooters. Then I moved here and the first time I took a British child out on a scooter she had a tantrum because I made her wear a helmet, when the mum got home she said i was being unreasonable. However, if I’d have let a child on a scooter in Canada without a helmet I probably would have been fired. I think why not just make them wear helmets, we do for most other non-motorised things (roller blades, skateboards)

[beefest]

Always! My DC's know they don't go out the door with their bikes or scooters without a helmet on and they're both teens/late teens. It's always been a rule in our house and I never need to ask them to put it on as they just do it. The amount of kids I see in my area on bikes, without helmets is crazy. I don't understand why parents wouldn't want their DC's to wear them!

[diamondpony80]

DD goes extremely fast on her scooter and has fallen off (skidded off the edge of the kerb), so yes, definitely helmets for us.