Dr. Allan Horowitz, published newspaper article, The Liberal, Copyright August 7, 1991

Dear Readers:

I hope you read my columns in June which dealt with the use of bicycle helmets. These articles gave some very compelling statistics regarding the effectiveness of these helmets. Since these articles appeared I have noticed many things … all good.

I have noticed a great many more riders using helmets. This may be due in part to my articles, but I certainly won’t take all of the credit.

The Canadian Medical Association distributed a form to doctors’ offices (and other offices that wanted them) which gives a substantial discount on the purchase of a bike helmet.

I went to Canadian Tire to check out their helmet supply,and their stock was almost gone. A few large sizes, one child’s helmet, and three nearly empty shelves.

This would not have been the case even one year ago.

One patient commented to me about the articles and related them to his own injuries that he sustained in an accident.

HIT WINDSHIELD

Two years ago he was on his bike, riding with traffic, and he was wearing a helmet. A car made a left turn through the intersection and struck his bike. He was thrown up in the air, landed against the windshield, and then was thrown 30 feet away and landed on the road.

He was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he was stitched up and X-rayed.

He had a concussion, but no other, serious injury. He ended up with some neck pain and headaches, and now, two years later he still has some neck stiffness and some headaches.

But if he was not wearing his helmet he would not be around to complain about anything. He knows this, and is very grateful for the fact that he was intelligent enough to wear his helmet, even when it was not fashionable to do so.

Story number two. A father called my office two days ago to tell me that he was reading the helmet articles with interest. He bought his young son a helmet.

HIT AND RUN

Three days ago, his son was involved in a hit and run accident. He was riding his bike, was struck by a car and the car didn’t even stop to find out if he was hurt.

When this boy hit the ground his helmet shattered. How is he? He has a bit of a headache, but is otherwise unharmed. How is the helmet? Demolished. Better it than him.

ONLY NUMBERS

Two stories to support my statistics. Statistics are only numbers until they affect you. Then, if you are lucky enough to be included as a successful statistic, you want to phone someone and tell them how lucky you were.

These are two people who will never get on a bike again without wearing a helmet. How about you?