Contact: Emily Greendonner
(608) 516-9154
MADISON, Wis. – Most UW Health Kids patients who require hospitalization or surgery due to injuries from traumatic, bike-related accidents were not wearing helmets.
In the last two years, on average, 70% of pediatric patients who came to the emergency department at American Family Children’s Hospital due to a bike accident and needed to be admitted or go to the operating room were not wearing a helmet at the time of the event.
In 2023, only 15 of the 50 children who were admitted to the hospital or required surgery were wearing helmets. In 2024, only 22 of 62 were wearing helmets, according to UW Health Kids safety data. There has also been an increase in bike crashes involving motorized equipment such as electronic scooters or e-bikes. There were seven of these types of crashes in 2023 and 12 in 2024, and on average, 80% of those patients were not wearing a helmet. Most injuries were among children between the ages of 13 and 14.
Accidents are the leading cause of death for kids ages 1-14, and those incidents are often due to head trauma, according to Dr. Michael Kim, medical director, pediatric emergency medicine, UW Heath Kids. Despite helmets being the most effective safety device to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes, they are not being worn, especially by children, he said.
As the summer is approaching, more and more children will suffer brain injuries or death if helmet use does not improve. The current trend is very concerning, Kim said.
“We must take this opportunity to teach and make changes to protect our children,” said Kim, who is also an associate professor of pediatric emergency medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “Data shows that if parents wear helmets, children also will, so parents wearing helmets is a critical element of saving their lives.”
According to Safe Kids Worldwide and UW Health Kids, a helmet should be worn at all times when riding, skating or scooting. Also, the helmet must fit correctly. It should sit on top of the head in a level position, not showing the entire forehead, and it should not rock forward, backward or side to side. The helmet straps must always be buckled snugly under the chin. The child needs to know how to put it on correctly by themselves. Also, kids should learn where to ride their bikes, on a bike path or sidewalk and how to cross the street safely.
The safety center at American Family Children’s Hospital offers helmets at a lower cost, and safety specialists can assure proper fit. For more information, visit: https://www.uwhealth.org/safety-center
