if someone want legislation to cover children wearing cycling helmets, then the same people should demand similar for play grounds as the number of serious injuries at playgrounds far outweighs those of cycling.
However, I am all in favour of cycling proficiancy tests. WBC and Merton offer course but only for children over 10 years old.

The recent deaths of people cycling have absolutely nothing to do with the use of helmets, though: people die on bicycles because they've been in incidents with vehicles many times larger and less forgiving than they are.

I really can't think of something less important than legislating to make children wear cycle helmets, if I'm honest. Children nowadays are more at risk of ill health through low activity than ever before, and actual incidence of head injuries to children - I would expect - are not significantly different to adults.

The biggest killer of children and teens in London is traffic, and I don't believe that it is possible to make a case that mandating cycling helmets will make any substantive difference to these outcomes.

I Wish everyone did but I do feel it won't be long before it comes into law at least for children. These recent cycling death sad as they are may trigger things.

Personally I ensure my whole family wear bike helmets when cycling, having reviewed significant evidence I am convinced that helmets offer considerable head protection and are a sensible precaution without hyping up any fear factor.

Dear Lucullus

You are of course entitled to you opinion but visit any hospital in the summer holidays and you will see how many injuries children sustain on and off bikes (not in cars if car seats are used) and I think you might change your mind.

Read Emma's post it makes interesting reading

[quote="zaza107"]And ideally the adults cycling with the children would wear helmets too. I see so many adults riding along with helmet-ed kids, but not wearing one themselves. If mum/dad/etc. gets a head injury they're not going to be much help to the child, not to mention isn't it easier to ensure the child wears one if the whole family does?[/quote]

I wear a helmet if I'm going out on a road bike. Otherwise I never wear one, nor do I make my children wear them. (They have them, and they can wear them if they want.)

The one incident so far where a child has hit her head involved a huge face plant which left her with a shiner, broken glasses and a nice scar. A helmet would have made no difference, frankly. Not only does anecdotal evidence suggest they would have limited benefit to my children, but I refuse to 'dangerise' cycling by telling them that it's more dangerous to be on a bicycle than to be walking around.

(And they're more at risk, statistically, from head injuries in a car than on a bike.)

I couldn't agree more x

And ideally the adults cycling with the children would wear helmets too. I see so many adults riding along with helmet-ed kids, but not wearing one themselves. If mum/dad/etc. gets a head injury they're not going to be much help to the child, not to mention isn't it easier to ensure the child wears one if the whole family does?

Thank you very much for that and I agree completely.

For any doubters out there I have written an article looking at the evidence for helmets - both for cycling, skiing and other dangerous sports.

[url]http://www.firstaidforlife.org.uk/helmets-save-lives/[/url]

Please visit and let me know what you think

Have a great week

Emma

Good point re trees I hadn't thought of that

I would like to say can we please really push to get children wearing cycle helmets when riding bikes I am amazed how many people don't. It is the law in many countries I wish it was here.
:)

(Otherwise a lovely picture, though!)

Thank you for pointing this out and you are right. It is a picture of my son taken a very long time ago (he is now 15) and he had just got off his bike to clamber on a tree in Richmond Park. I used it because I love the picture, not to illustrate that children should wear cycling helmets to climb trees. Thank you so much for drawing my attention to it and I will think far more carefully about the pictures I choose in future.
Best wishes
Emma

It's a very useful post, but I'd suggest using a picture of a child wearing a cycling helmet is rather pointless given that it offers no protection against the most common items mentioned, but more importantly, as shown, it is a danger to the child because it isn't being worn properly.

You are most welcome to come and join one of our courses. We run scheduled ones in Balham on various days including weekends and alternatively could come and run a bespoke one for you and some friends at a time and place that suits you. Our trainers are highly experienced medical and emergency services professionals and we will tailor the course to your needs.

I also have online courses on [url]http://www.onlinefirstaid.com[/url] that you can access on any computer or mobile device and learn when you have a free moment. They consist of videos, step by step instructions and clear explanations.

Have a great day and please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help. Good luck with your move to the country and thank you again.

Best wishes
Emma Hammett
First Aid for Life

It's a pleasure, I'm so grateful for the information!! I have 3 children and 1 more on the way and I am always really nervous about not knowing this kind of essential first aid information, especially as they are always getting into scrapes and it is clearly possible that one of them will have a more serious accident at some point in the near future no matter how careful we are. I have been meaning to go on a first aid course for ages, but haven't managed to find one with times that I can fit in. We are moving to the country very soon and I have been even more worried that something could happen to one of the children when we are a long way from a hospital, so having this information is incredibly reassuring. I now feel confident that I know the best first aid responses in these 5 situations - I am going to make my husband watch it today as well! Thanks again!