Helmets key to reducing head injuries By KENNETH JACKSON Metro Ottawa Don’t use your brains for brakes. That’s the message Ottawa Public Health used to kick off Safe Kids Week in the city, in a bid to stem head injuries among children. Whether cycling, skateboarding or rollerblading, a helmet reduces the risk of injury in a crash, Ottawa’s chief medical officer, Dr. Robert Cushman, said at a media event yesterday. “You can have a serious head injury just standing up,” Cushman said. “Helmets can reduce head injuries up to 80 or 90 per cent. You don’t want to use your head as brakes.” Nine-year-old Sammy Van Dusen learned the importance of headgear last summer when he went off a bicycle trail and fell 15 feet down a rocky slope. “I fell off of my bike and into a ravine but it could have been much worse if I hadn’t been wearing my helmet,” the youngster said. “I think people should be smart and wear a helmet. I did, and it may have saved my life.” The health unit launched the 2005 event yesterday at the Ottawa SK8 Park on Industrial Avenue. The event included a video illustrating the need for helmets as well as performances by skateboarders and bikers, all decked out in protective gear. There will be events all week at Ottawa Children’s Safety Village at 106 Greenview Ave., all aimed at protecting children from preventable injuries. “Our kids need to be physically active but they also need to take appropriate safety measures to prevent serious injuries,” Cushman said. Helmet should fit well and be CSA approved, officials said. |