Summer 2008 Editorial

Editorial
The Olympic Games are finally here!

The beautiful new buildings and venues for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, are nearly ready, and in a few weeks the games will start.

Besides having the thrill of watching the world’s best athletes compete, those of us in the injury prevention profession can also rejoice in the satisfaction that participants in the bicycling events will be wearing helmets.

Congratulations to the world cycling organizations, to the national sports federations and organizers of 2008 Olympic Games for making safety and head injury prevention a part of the Olympic Games.

Have a pleasant summer.

Philip L. Graitcer, facilitator
WHO Helmet Initiative

Special Report
Update on road traffic injury prevention projects in Viet Nam and Mexico

In August 2007 the World Health Organization was given a grant by Bloomberg Philanthropies to implement a road traffic injury prevention project. The project, which ends in July 2009, has two parts:

1. to publish a Global status report on road safety, which assesses the status of road safety in all countries; and
2. to implement road traffic injury prevention measures in Viet Nam and Mexico.

Consultative approaches are being used in Viet Nam and Mexico to identify appropriate local partner agencies, develop work plans and implement activities. In Viet Nam, prevention measures are focused on promoting helmet wearing and controlling drinking and driving. The measures are being implemented in three provinces: Yen Bai, Da Nang, Binh Duong. A situational assessment has been already been completed and several activities (training, review of legislation, enforcement, awareness raising, information dissemination, purchase of equipment, monitoring etc) are underway.

In Mexico, prevention measures are focused on promoting seat-belt use and controlling drinking and driving, and they are being implemented in four states: Mexico Federal District, Monterrey, Guadalajara and León. A situational assessment is being carried out and several planned activities (training, review of legislation, enforcement, awareness raising, information dissemination, purchase of equipment , monitoring etc) are being implemented.

More information about these projects is available here and here.

Prepared by Meleckidzedeck Khayesi
Technical Officer, Department of Injuries and Violence Prevention and Disability
World Health Organization
Geneva, Switzerland

Pakistan: Helmet Use
Wearing a helmet is the single most effective measure for preventing head injuries among motorcycle users. In Pakistan, where the number of people using motorcycles is rapidly increasing and now comprise 48% of all motor vehicles, not all motorcyclists wear helmets. read more

Iran: Bicycle injuries in Tehran
Of the more than 8 000 visits to trauma centres in Iran’s capital city, Tehran, a little more than 2% (170) involve bicycle injuries. read more

Promoting Helmets Without Laws: Can it be done?
Globally, especially in high-income countries, laws are often used to require the use of bicycle helmets, especially for children. read more

Israel: Parents Support Bicycle Helmets
In Israel, there are no laws requiring children to wear bicycle helmets. read more

U.S.A.: Legislation and helmet wearing
Many reports have indicated that legislation requiring children to wear bicycle helmets increases helmet use in six months to one year. read more

U.S.A.: Awareness of bicycle helmet laws
In North Carolina, in the Southeastern United States, four bicyclists are killed or injured every day. read more

U.S.A.: How effective are motorcycle laws in reducing young motorcyclist fatalities?
Under increased pressure from motorcycle advocacy groups, states’ laws are being changed from requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets to laws that require only young riders to do so. read more