EFFECT OF HELMET WEARING ON MOTORCYCLE AND BICYCLE ACCIDENTS (PROSPECTIVE STUDY)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 forensic medicine and clinical toxicology department, faculty of medicine, Aswan university, Aswan, Egypt

2 Prof. and Head of department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Faculty of Medicine - Assuit University ,Egypt

3 Professor of Forensic medicine and clinical toxicology Department ,Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University, Egypt

4 Lecturer of Forensic medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit university, Egypt

Abstract

Abstract
Background: Helmet use is one of the most crucial factors that influence the degree of severity of injuries in motorcyclists and pedal cyclists.
Purpose: This study aims to determine incidence of Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) among a sample of motorcyclists and pedal cyclists and giving insight on the negligence of helmet use as a predisposing factor for disagreeable injuries.
Patients and Methods: This study is descriptive one, the participants were motorcyclists and pedal cyclists involved in RTIs in two governorates of Upper Egypt, Aswan and Sohag were admitted to the emergency department in university hospitals from 1st of January, 2020 to 1st of January, 2021. Demographic information and types of injuries were recorded.
Results: In this study there were 66 victims of motorcycles and 15 victims of pedal cycles involved, all of them were males (100.0%), mostly in the age group (26-35 years). only half of motor cyclists (50.0%) used helmet whereas no one of pedal cyclists used it.
Conclusion and recommendations: The present study showed that negligence of helmet use represents risk for traffic safety and there is a need for interventional programs to reduce the burden of motorcycle fatalities.

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