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Changing pattern of child bicycle injury in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
Article first published online: 23 MAY 2007
DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2007.01117.x
Additional Information
How to Cite
Moyes, S. A. (2007), Changing pattern of child bicycle injury in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 43: 486–488. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2007.01117.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 23 MAY 2007
- Article first published online: 23 MAY 2007
- Accepted for publication 8 January 2006.
- Abstract
- Article
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Keywords:
- child safety;
- head and brain injury;
- sports safety
Aim: To determine if helmet laws and safety campaigns have had an impact on bicycle injuries in children.
Methods: A comparison of the number of bicycle injuries presented to Whakatane Hospital’s Emergency Department in the period 1982–1986 to the period July 1998–December 2005.
Results: In the first period there were 597 per 100 000 presentations per annum which increased to 890 per 100 000 per annum in the later period (P < 0.01). Fractures increased from 115 to 234 per 100 000 per annum respectively (P = 0.02). Injuries from a collision with a moving motor vehicle decreased from 72 to 30 per 100 000 per year and of those the proportion of serious head injuries dropped from 65% to 33%. There were four deaths in the earlier period but none in recent years.
Conclusions: Injuries from bicycle use have increased but there has been a marked reduction in collisions with motor vehicles. This is a result of the changing use of bicycles by children.