Perhaps the most deceptive misconception that bicycle helmet
manufacturers and proponents like to see in the media and from public (even if
they avoid making the statement themselves) is that bicycle helmets prevent
brain injuries. Those who profit from helmet sales and those who genuinely
believe they are saving lives by pushing bike helmets often prompt these lies
by emphasizing that helmets “can” prevent “head injuries.” Note that a cut to
the scalp is a head injury. Brain injuries are different, though most readers
don’t make the distinction.
Many
supposedly scientific studies readily skew data to force their intended
outcome of showing bike helmets do protect brains, but each of these have been
debunked, usually finding that deaths were from other causes and data sets were
lopsided. But many people simply want to believe that helmets prevent brain
damage, even though no such device on the outside of the head can prevent the
brain from impacting the inside of the skull. Our brains are suspended in
fluid. Upon impact, whether the skull is protected or not, the brain will hit
the skull. Simple physics.
Unfortunately, we must look to other activities where
helmets have been tried in order to find sincere efforts to question their use
or at least effectiveness. Here in the U.S., the National
Football League (NFL) has been forced by injured players and their families to
admit that no helmet can stop concussions. Instead, they are finally
engaging a concussion protocol that takes players out of the game after a blow
to their helmeted head.
The article linked in the above paragraph about the NFL
notes that there could conceivably be a helmet that lessened brain injury but
the design would require 15 inches (38 centimeters) of foam wrapping the entire
head. Another potential design could mimic single-use motorcycle helmets – full
head, heavy shell – and even their manufactures admit they cannot prevent brain
injury. We can safely assume that most cyclists will not want to wear such a
helmet, especially since the
risk of a cyclist banging their head is no more likely than that of pedestrian’s
and far less likely than those is cars.
The latest sport to ditch helmets is boxing. This interests
me because I have recently taken up the sport and love it. I learned last week
from our coach that we need to focus our punches on our opponent’s head. And
yet, the
Olympics banned headgear for male boxers this year citing an increase in concussions since headgear
was made mandatory. They show that boxers began leading with their head more,
similar to studies
that show an increase in risky behavior by helmeted cyclists. I also wonder
if the increased diameter of the boxers’ heads increased potential for contact,
much like a bike helmet increases the chance of a cyclists’ head hitting the
ground or the object they collide with.
Let’s hope that bicycle helmet manufacturers and proponents
will soon follow American football and Olympic boxing in admitting that their
product cannot prevent brain injuries. It’s time for more honesty on this
topic!
