Increasing bicycle helmet use in the community

This study attempts to determine whether a wide-scale, long-term community promotional effort would increase the use of bicycle helmets among children. Over 2 years, a non-profit group coordinated a range of activities to promote helmet use. On one date before the intervention began and three dates...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian family physician 1994-06, Vol.40, p.1126-1131
Main Authors: Morris, BAP, Trimble, N E, Fendley, S J
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:This study attempts to determine whether a wide-scale, long-term community promotional effort would increase the use of bicycle helmets among children. Over 2 years, a non-profit group coordinated a range of activities to promote helmet use. On one date before the intervention began and three dates during the intervention, observers surveyed students riding bicycles. Print, ratio, and television advertising; posters; pamphlets; bicycle rodeos; and a play were used in a public awareness campaign. Health promotion activities included education, social marketing, community development, and legislative action. Combining the two observation dates for each year, helmet use increased from 5.4% in 1990 to 15.4% in 1991. The greatest increase was observed among elementary school students, the group most at risk of serious head injury or death. Overall, girls were twice as likely to wear helmets as boys.
ISSN:0008-350X