| Recent legislation passed by the Colorado House of | | | | bicycle accident carries heavy financial burdens. These |
| Representatives may require children under the age of | | | | type of injuries can result in costly medical bills, reduce |
| 18 to wear a bicycle helmet while riding. The close | | | | future earnings due to permanent disability and impact |
| vote, 33-32, brings the bill one step closer to becoming | | | | overall quality of life costs. The CSN estimates that "if |
| a law as it heads to the state senate chambers. This | | | | 85 percent of all child cyclists wore helmets in 1 year, |
| comes days after the state's governor, Bill Ritter, was | | | | the lifetime medical cost savings would total $197 to |
| treated for significant injuries related to a bicycle crash. | | | | $256 million. |
| Proposed by Fort Collins Democratic Rep. John | | | | The Colorado government is estimated to save $110 |
| Kefalas, House Bill 1147 in voted into law, would make | | | | per year in medical costs for each helmet that is worn |
| Colorado the 23 state, including the District of Columbia, | | | | - a figure that could result in $1 million a month in |
| to require youth bicycle riders to wear a helmet. Close | | | | savings. |
| to 200 local laws, also exist as an attempt to curb the | | | | Traumatic Brain Injuries and Children |
| number of bicycle-related injuries that occur annually. | | | | According to the United States Center for Disease |
| Helmet Laws Reduce Medical Costs | | | | Control, the following statistics reveal the number of |
| The Child Safety Network reports that close to 200 | | | | children age 0 to 14 who fall victim to a traumatic brain |
| children under the age of 15 die each year from a | | | | injury: |
| bicycle-related injury. Each year, close to 9,000 children | | | | * 2,685 deaths |
| are hospitalized and 344,000 additional children are | | | | * 37,000 hospitalizations |
| treated in emergency rooms for injuries sustained | | | | * 435,000 emergency department visits annually |
| from a bicycle accident. Because bicycle helmets can | | | | Preventative measures to reduce the number of brain |
| prevent 52 to 60 percent of bike-related traumatic | | | | injuries that occur each year would be fiscally |
| head injury deaths, 68 to 85 percent of nonfatal head | | | | beneficial and would help improve the quality of life for |
| and scalp injuries and 65 percent of upper and middle | | | | active children - ensuring their safety during the |
| face injuries, helmet laws are anticipated to drastically | | | | activities they love. Preventative measures are |
| reduce total medical costs nationwide for bike-related | | | | anticipated to reduce the number of traumatic brain |
| injuries, especially those involving a traumatic brain | | | | injury lawsuits filed by those seeking monetary |
| injury. | | | | compensation. |
| A traumatic brain injury that is sustained during a | | | | |