CLEVELAND – University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital pediatrician, Lolita McDavid, M.D., will join State Representative Michael J. Skindell (D – Lakewood) and Senator Tom Roberts (D – Trotwood) on Wednesday, November 7th to bring forward legislation requiring children under the age of 18 to wear helmets while riding bicycles on roadways. The bill would also establish a Bicycle Safety Fund to assist low-income families in purchasing helmets.
“As head of the Child Protection Team at Rainbow, I work every day to keep children safe,” said Dr. McDavid. “Helmet safety reduces head injury, brain injury, facial injury and even fatalities. While no equipment can provide 100 percent protection, helmets are designed to absorb some of the impact to the head and lessen the severity of injury in an accident. Like with seat belts, good legislation can save lives.”
“Twenty other states and the District of Columbia have already taken this life-saving step to require helmets; it’s time for Ohio to join them,” said Rep. Skindell. “This legislation will keep children out of emergency and hospital rooms.”
This legislation, introduced in the Senate by Sen. Roberts earlier this year and brought forward in the House of Representatives by Rep. Skindell today, will drastically reduce pediatric injuries and deaths caused by bike accidents each year. The American Academy of Pediatrics lists bicycling as the leading cause of emergency room visits for children with recreational sports injuries. The National Highway of Traffic Safety Administration also recently reported that children ages 5-15 account for 30 percent of bicycling deaths. The use of properly-fitted helmets could reduce the risk of head injury by up to 88 percent, yet currently, it is estimated that only 15-25 percent of children use helmets.
Dr. McDavid with join Sen. Roberts and Rep. Skindell at a press conference on Wednesday, November 7th at 3:30 p.m. to unveil the specifics of the new legislation and answer questions. The conference will take place in Columbus at the Ohio Statehouse, room 311.