Impact of a Helmet Distribution Program in the Pediatric Emergency Department
Nicolas Delacruz1, Kathryn Varghese2, Allan Pulliam3
1From the NYU Langone Health/Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY.
Pediatric Emergency Care
|July 1, 2024
Summary
An emergency department (ED) helmet distribution program significantly increased bicycle helmet use among children and adolescents. This intervention shows promise for improving safety and preventing head injuries in young riders.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Bicycle helmet use is crucial for preventing serious injuries in children and adolescents.
- Despite proven benefits, helmet adoption rates remain low among this demographic.
- Existing interventions have not fully addressed the barriers to consistent helmet use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of an emergency department (ED)-based program in increasing self-reported bicycle helmet usage among pediatric patients.
- To assess changes in helmet-wearing habits and perceptions following a helmet distribution and counseling intervention.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study involving 94 children aged 3-17 years presenting to an urban ED.
- Participants completed pre-intervention surveys on helmet use, followed by receiving a helmet and safety counseling.
- Follow-up surveys were conducted 8 weeks post-intervention to assess changes in helmet usage.
Main Results:
- The ED-based helmet program led to a statistically significant increase in reported helmet usage.
- Pre-intervention, 48% of participants wore helmets most or all of the time; post-intervention, this rose to 86%.
- Sixteen percent of contacted participants reported a helmet prevented head injury in an accident after the intervention.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric ED-based helmet distribution programs are effective in increasing bicycle helmet usage rates.
- Further research is warranted to confirm the impact of such programs on actual head injury prevention.
- Targeted interventions within healthcare settings can positively influence pediatric safety behaviors.
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