How can wearing a helmet offer no protection from injury?

[mickle]

The helmet complies to either a BS or EU standard. The protection it offers is implicit.

A whole website devoted to a range of products whose only purpose is to (allegedly) protect heads from injury and there's barely any mention of the product's ability to protect heads from injury.

Doesn't that seem strange to you?

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

The helmet complies to either a BS or EU standard. The protection it offers is implicit.

15 seconds googling found this


The latest in safety and style, this helmet is the most innovative in the industry. With a lightweight composite and fully removable liner, this helmet is the apex in performance and style.

• Meets Snell and DOT standards
• Lighweight Carbon,Kevlar, and fiberglass composite
• Forehead, Chin, and back vents with shut offs
• Aerodynamic Counter Measure(A.C.M) to increase stability
• Removable, washable, quick drying lining;breath deflector for fog free riding
• Comes standard with clear shield
• Snell 2005 Certified

http://simpsonraceproducts.com/prod...ct_info&cPath=1_546&sPath=15&products_id=6542

( the bold bits are mine)

Contrast and compare the selling techniques

 

[Angelfishsolo]

A whole website devoted to a range of products whose only purpose is to (allegedly) protect heads from injury and there's barely any mention of the product's ability to protect heads from injury.

Doesn't that seem strange to you?

Not at all.

 

[mickle]

Not at all.

My work here is done.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

My work here is done.

Working on the premise that most helmets comply to the EU standard and as such will much of an muchness in terms of protection it is obvious that the helmet seller will use unique or interesting features of the helmet to sell it.

 

[benb]

Minimal not none?

I've always said that if you experienced a very low impact collision (basically a stationary fall) a helmet could probably be of some benefit.

But:
- The likelihood of that happening is tiny
- The likelihood of suffering a serious head injury in such a situation is even tinier
- Therefore the likelihood of a helmet actually preventing serious injury is vanishingly small

I think people need to remember that the human skull is much stronger than a bicycle helmet.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I've always said that if you experienced a very low impact collision (basically a stationary fall) a helmet could probably be of some benefit.

But:
- The likelihood of that happening is tiny
- The likelihood of suffering a serious head injury in such a situation is even tinier
- Therefore the likelihood of a helmet actually preventing serious injury is vanishingly small

I think people need to remember that the human skull is much stronger than a bicycle helmet.

Have you seen the title of this thread ?

How can wearing a helmet offer no protection from injury?

 

[benb]

Have you seen the title of this thread ?

How can wearing a helmet offer no protection from injury?

I don't recall anyone claiming that. What we have said, based on the evidence, is that helmets are not effective at reducing serious head injuries.
They might stop you getting a cut or a bruise.

 

[twobiker]

I don't recall anyone claiming that. What we have said, based on the evidence, is that helmets are not effective at reducing serious head injuries.
They might stop you getting a cut or a bruise.

Then that's good enough for me.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

I am so liking this. Nice one RL

Are there any stats on shoe wearing btw?

Surely they're affected by the very real statistic that the majority of people have more than the average number of feet?

 

[Mad at urage]

I don't recall anyone claiming that. What we have said, based on the evidence, is that helmets are not effective at reducing serious head injuries.
They might stop you getting a cut or a bruise.

Time for a re-post:
One of the problems is that they will potentially save you from minor injuries such as grazes and bruising, without doing much (or anything) about the deceleration of the brain that can result in far more significant injury.

This is indeed a problem that has been found to occur with head guards in martial arts / boxing etc, which were introduced at the behest of the medical profession to reduce/prevent head injuries (after all, it's 'common sense' that they must, right?). It is now accepted in medical circles that these have increased the frequency of brain trauma which remains undetected and untreated, because the tell-tale signs of bruising and cuts (which would have otherwise stopped people from training / competing until healed) are no longer present.

If your head hits the ground and bleeds, you are quite likely to consider the possibility of brain trauma and do something about it. Medical professionals are quite likely to take the possibility seriously too.

Hit your helmet on the ground and consequently don't get a grazed head: Will you or the medical professionals treat as for concussion - and the potential for worse? You and they should, but there is a risk that this won't happen.

For those about to question (again) how this is relevant to cycling (where you don't have someone deliberately banging your head, read the italicised sections.

 

[lukesdad]

I've always said that if you experienced a very low impact collision (basically a stationary fall) a helmet could probably be of some benefit.

But:
- The likelihood of that happening is tiny
- The likelihood of suffering a serious head injury in such a situation is even tinier
- Therefore the likelihood of a helmet actually preventing serious injury is vanishingly small

I think people need to remember that the human skull is much stronger than a bicycle helmet.

I think you need to rethink your definition of a low impact collision. Have you never been mtbing in a forest or wood with low branches. When a rider falls natural instinct is to protect the head usually done with the hands or arms. Hence most common injuries being shoulder and collar bone. This action will of course reduce the impact to the head or remove it all together.

As you can see or maybe not. these to are low impact collisions.

 

[lukesdad]

Time for a re-post:
One of the problems is that they will potentially save you from minor injuries such as grazes and bruising, without doing much (or anything) about the deceleration of the brain that can result in far more significant injury.

This is indeed a problem that has been found to occur with head guards in martial arts / boxing etc, which were introduced at the behest of the medical profession to reduce/prevent head injuries (after all, it's 'common sense' that they must, right?). It is now accepted in medical circles that these have increased the frequency of brain trauma which remains undetected and untreated, because the tell-tale signs of bruising and cuts (which would have otherwise stopped people from training / competing until healed) are no longer present.

If your head hits the ground and bleeds, you are quite likely to consider the possibility of brain trauma and do something about it. Medical professionals are quite likely to take the possibility seriously too.

Hit your helmet on the ground and consequently don't get a grazed head: Will you or the medical professionals treat as for concussion - and the potential for worse? You and they should, but there is a risk that this won't happen.

For those about to question (again) how this is relevant to cycling (where you don't have someone deliberately banging your head, read the italicised sections.

Yes but we have allready discovered you are more likely to get a minor injury whilst cycling than a severe one. Nothing is going to offer protection in a severe impact.

Once again you ve missed the point completely. I await your next repost with anticipation.

 

[4F]

Horses for courses. If I decided to play around on one of those strange contraptions called a mtb in the forest then I may consider wearing a helmet, however all my riding is on the road and my own risk assesment has deemed that I don't need a polystyrene plant pot.

 

[lukesdad]

Horses for courses. If I decided to play around on one of those strange contraptions called a mtb in the forest then I may consider wearing a helmet, however all my riding is on the road and my own risk assesment has deemed that I don't need a polystyrene plant pot.

This is now the only time I really wear a helmet (mtbing). Unless of course there is a threat of rain. Then I simply must. I have to have a secure place to store my shades as they were rather expensive