How can wearing a helmet offer no protection from injury?

[Angelfishsolo]

If wishes were horse beggars would ride.

Is that the argument conceded?

 

[Red Light]

So based on your thoughts Crash Test dummies serve no purpose in a car either as they can only move when an external force is applied. They have in reality taught manufacturers a hell of a lot about car safety requirements. CTD's may not be optimal but they are better than nothing. Stats are to a degree meaningless unless the actual crash was witnessed and recorded. Observation of crashes in real life is the best way of determining where improvements are needed.

Crash test dummies in cars are very different. They are strapped into a rigid seat with their hands fixed to the wheel for a start not free to move in three dimensions on their own.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

Is that the argument conceded?

Arguement? I thought you had strayed into fantasy and was joining in!

 

[Red Light]

I am a creature of habit and just don't fancy the risky time between it feeling strange and getting used to it. With my luck that will be the time I will be involved in a serious "my fault" accident.

The chance of you being involved in a serious accident during that period is about ten times lower risk of you winning the lottery jackpot during that time. So I would rush out and buy some lottery tickets on that basis if I were you.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Crash test dummies in cars are very different. They are strapped into a rigid seat with their hands fixed to the wheel for a start not free to move in three dimensions on their own.

The passengers are only seat belted in. They simulate what a hight(ish) speed crash is like in that there is no reaction time.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Arguement? I thought you had strayed into fantasy and was joining in!

So are you saying it is impossible to design a lightweight, cool and user safe helmet?

 

[Angelfishsolo]

The chance of you being involved in a serious accident during that period is about ten times lower risk of you winning the lottery jackpot during that time. So I would rush out and buy some lottery tickets on that basis if I were you.

I said knowing my luck. I'm sure you know that if you plot people luck on a bell curve you get some one the extremes. When it comes to bad luck I'm at the loosing end.

 

[Red Light]

So are you saying it is impossible to design a lightweight, cool and user safe helmet?

As Keith Bontrager said "Light, strong, cheap; choose two"

 

[Angelfishsolo]

As Keith Bontrager said "Light, strong, cheap; choose two"

Were did I mention cheep?

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Does luck follow a normal distribution? Interesting thought.

To be honest I do not know. It certainly feels that way sometimes

 

[ufkacbln]

The fit of a helmet cannot be emphasised enough, and the "so long as you are wearing one" argument is unacceptable.

Research from the US is scathing about the issue

"Poor fit of helmets may be associated with an increased risk of head and brain injury"

"It is clear from this work that helmets do not fit some children well"

"Helmets may need to be redesigned, particularly for the younger age group, to fit better - in particular by decreasing width."

"Staff in shops selling bicycle helmets should be trained to fit them properly using head-measuring tools."

Just to highlight some of their findings from researching some 1.700 accidents:

• A backward tilting helmet doubled the risk of a head injury and if the helmet was ejected tripled the chances
• Over 60 % of the children who had head injuries wore helmets with a 2 cm or greater gap between the head and helmet, a factor which had contributed to the injury
• Ill fitting helmets would cause deceleration injuries when compared to a well fitting helmet
• Ill fitting helmets increase the risk of injury

Other research looked at children's helmets during "Well visits" and showed that only 4% of children had a cycle helmet that was suitable and properly (safely) fitted.

SO it would appear that in fact training is going to be necessary if helmets are not simply going to be a cosmetic appeasement



:

 

[Angelfishsolo]

The fit of a helmet cannot be emphasised enough, and the "so long as you are wearing one" argument is unacceptable.

Research from the US is scathing about the issue



Just to highlight some of their findings from researching some 1.700 accidents:

• A backward tilting helmet doubled the risk of a head injury and if the helmet was ejected tripled the chances
• Over 60 % of the children who had head injuries wore helmets with a 2 cm or greater gap between the head and helmet, a factor which had contributed to the injury
• Ill fitting helmets would cause deceleration injuries when compared to a well fitting helmet
• Ill fitting helmets increase the risk of injury

Other research looked at children's helmets during "Well visits" and showed that only 4% of children had a cycle helmet that was suitable and properly (safely) fitted.

SO it would appear that in fact training is going to be necessary if helmets are not simply going to be a cosmetic appeasement



:

Agree completely. There is so much more to wearing a helmet than popping it on your head.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

So are you saying it is impossible to design a lightweight, cool and user safe helmet?

I'm not sure about impossible, but certainly improbable.


Then of course there are the vested interests, who wants to rock the boat when they can sell a 50p piece of plastic for >£100?

 

[Angelfishsolo]

You live in a prosperous country and, based on your avatar, have made it to middle age. Whilst I appreciate from other things you have told us, your life has not been as easy as some others, you could have been a lot less lucky than you are.

I know. It was said in jest TBH.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

You live in a prosperous country and, based on your avatar, have made it to middle age. Whilst I appreciate from other things you have told us, your life has not been as easy as some others, you could have been a lot less lucky than you are.

LUCKY????


He lives in Aberdare! He deserves all the luck he can get!