do your children wear bicycle helmets?

[hatstand]

in the park? Is there really a risk of them doing themselves a serious injury?

You strap your children into car seats if they like it or not, you teach them to cross roads carefully, holding your hand, you cook food carefully to avoid food poisoning, you wear bike hats to prevent serious head injuries. Obvious isn?t it?

no they dont wear cycle helemets

True basketcase, but I think the risks are somewhat less riding a bike around the grass in your garden than driving in a car not strapped in or crossing the road without looking and listening. Not disputing the safety of helmets at all just pointing out the difference in risk IYSWIM.

yes

My experience in working with patients with head injuries (and now a growing body of research) suggests that a cycle helmet can make a significant difference to the extent and nature of injury to the brain. It also reduces severity of facial injury, which can be quite a considerable advantage even in more 'everyday' cycling accidents.

The Australian story is a bit misleading. Cycling rates did drop, but mostly because they lowered the legal age to drive a motor vehicle simultaneously. I seem to remember them having quite unequivocable improvements after the legislation: something like a 45% reduction in head injuries coinciding a doubling in the percentage of helmet-wearers.

You won't find anyone I work with riding without helmet (or allowing their kids to do so).

Incidentally, more than 80% of children's cycling accidents occur off-road.

It's the law here. Ds has to wear one in his toddler seat on my bike.

I'm not sure what the law is when he's on his tricycle though, so I make him wear it to be consistant.

Yes! and when out on their scooters or rollerblades.