[Prevention of serious injuries due to bicycle riding]

In 1984 there were 32,860 persons who suffered from bicycle-related injuries in Switzerland. They accounted for 27% of the persons injured on the road. Cranio-cerebral trauma had to be treated in 26% of the injured bicyclists. Two thirds of hospital admissions after bicycle accidents were due to head injuries. Craniocerebral trauma accounted for about 65% of the residual lesions and for 69% of the lethal injuries related to bicycle accidents. A relatively simple and effective protection for these injuries would consist of the use of a helmet. To estimate the expected reduction of head injuries if everybody had a helmet, the regression analysis of a previous study from Seattle was applied. By wearing hard-shell helmets, there would be a reduction in number and severity of 7500 head injuries and a decrease of 2000 hospital admissions each year in Switzerland. In addition to the decrease in suffering and quality of life of the use of helmets would lower health costs by at least 22 million swiss francs per year.