Bicycle-related injuries: a survey in a pediatric emergency department

The number of bicycle-related injuries has risen significantly with the increased popularity of bicycle riding in Canada. The risk of injury is highest among children. To assess the magnitude of the problem and to identify the contributing factors we used a questionnaire, injury reports and patient charts to survey bicycle-related injuries among children brought to the emergency department of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, between May 1 and Sept. 30, 1988. The questionnaire was completed for 517 (91%) of the 568 children; 70% were boys, and the mean age was 9.4 years. Only 2% of the patients had been wearing a helmet at the time of injury, although 13% claimed to own one for cycling. Over 60% of the accidents were attributable to carelessness or poor bicycle control; mechanical failure and environmental hazards were minor factors. Over 80% of the injuries occurred within a kilometre of the child's home. Of the 97 children admitted to hospital 49% had head and skull injuries and 40% had limb fractures. Bicycle-related injuries represented 14.8% of all nonwinter (Apr. 1 to Oct. 31) trauma admissions among children 5 years or older. Our results further document bicycle-related injuries as an important childhood problem and underscore the need for improved safety measures.