Reply To: Should I wear a helmet for biking?

#263801

As an orthopedic surgeon who has witnessed head injury on the trail, I can tell you that the state of science regarding traumatic injury and the value of helmets is overwhelming.  The relative strength of a skull is similar to tempered glass.  So imagine filling a tempered glass skull with jello, cover with skin and drop it on the floor.  Its a pretty good analogy to what happens when a helmetless head hits pavement.  A good quality helmet certainly isn’t bullet proof, and serious injury happens regardless, but stay in your right mind – wear one.

I was a trauma resident in Pa when mandatory motorcycle helmet laws were repealed in 2000.  Afterwards I got a great deal more sleep on trauma call.  A significantly higher number of motorcycle accident victims were dying in the field before being transported to our level I trauma center.  There, my friends, is Darwin at work.   Don’t do his job for him.