Sunday 21st December 2014 – 7.10pm – Jamie Arrowsmith.
For anyone still undecided on what to buy as a last minute Christmas present, a cycling helmet may turn out to be much more than a gift, it could be a lifesaver.
That proved to be the case for a man in Bomere Heath this morning after he collided with a gate post after being thrown over the front of his handlebars whilst cycling with a group of friends.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the incident near to The Hayes Farm Junction, at 11.15am this morning. Two ambulances were sent to the scene. A surgeon who lived nearby was also on hand and had already starting treating the patient when crews arrived.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service Spokesman said: “On arrival, crews discovered a man, believed to be in his 50s, who had collided head first with a stone gate post after being thrown over the handlebars of his bike. His helmet, which had split into two as a result of the impact, was nearby.
“Following assessment from ambulance staff he was treated for a cut to the head and a back injury, but medics on scene were left in no doubt that his decision to wear a helmet saved his life due to the severe nature of the impact.
“He was then transferred to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for further assessment.
“Thankfully, the man was conscious and able to talk to ambulance staff about the incident. Reflecting on the damage caused to his helmet, he said he was going to use it to demonstrate to other cyclists in his group the importance of wearing one every time they get on a bike.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
The image is the cycle helmet invovled in the incident. If using the image, please credit it to West Midlands Ambulance Service.
hope he makes a full recovery and thank god he was wearing his helmet I know how it feels …..I’ve been there myself
Frankly, it is a disgrace that an official body like WMAS broadcasts nonsense like this, with no factual basis and against all the scientific evidence, and I suggest you remove it immediately.
There are thousands of these “helmet saved my life” stories, but the death rate to cyclists doesn’t fall with increased helmet wearing, it rises.
For the facts rather than the fairy tales of helmet promoters, check out cyclehelmets.org
Thanks for your comments Burt, but on this occasion, there is absolutely no doubt that the helmet saved this man’s life. It wasn’t just our view, it was also the comment from the surgeon whose house the man crashed into. I am sorry that you feel that this sensible piece of advice is a fairy tale. Our staff regularly report how important helmets are in saving cyclists. Recent research show that over 95% of cyclists who suffer life changing head injuries were not wearing a helmet. We recommend cyclist wear helmets, but it is entirely up to the individual if they choose to or not.
Dear offialwmas,
It may have been your view, and that of the surgeon, that the helmet saved this cyclists life, but if neither of you are experts in the mechanics of collisions or cycle helmets, then those opinions have no validity. It would be a bit like taking advice from a baker about your computer, just irrelevant. All the reliable evidence, not anecdote, shows clearly that helmets make, at best, no difference to the safety of cyclists, but you believe the opposite, why is that?
As I’ve already pointed out, there are thousands of these “helmet saved my life” stories, and if even a small proportion of them were true, then the risk to cyclists would have fallen as helmet wearing rates increased, but not only does the risk not fall, it rises.
I’d very much like to see this “research” which shows that 95% of cyclists who suffer life changing injuries were not wearing a helmet, so could you post a link please?
While you’re looking for that reference, take a look at http://www.cyclehelmets.org/1209.html
There are two types of people regarding cycle helmets, those who have read the evidence (like Chris Boardman) who don’t wear helmets, and those who refuse to look at the evidence.
Seems like helmets offer some protection in collision but are collisions really always more likely when riding a bike than when doing other normal activities?