Backing Up Helmets
BACKING UP HELMETS
New information has come from Australia showing that full face helmets not only offer protection to a motorcyclist's face, but also to his spinal cord, thereby reducing the chances of total paralysis.
Dr. John Yeo, director of the spinal unit at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, has recently finished a study comparing spinal cord injuries to motorcyclists admitted to the hospital between 1973 and 1977. In all. 120 patients were investigated, though only 88 provided adequate information for study and of those. 45 received a direct blow to the spine and weren't used for evaluation. The remaining 43 patients included 25 who were totally paralyzed when admitted and 18 who were para-
plegic. or paralyzed below the waist.
Of the 25 totally paralyzed. 10 were wearing full face helmets and six of those recovered. Another additional 13 were wearing open face helmets and only two recovered. In examining the medical histories, Dr. Yeo found a large number of motorcyclists who had been wearing full face helmets received broken collar bones but didn't receive spinal cord injuries. Apparently, according to Dr. Yeo. the full face helmet transmits a greater amount of impact loads to the shoulders, helping to protect the spinal cord. There were also reductions in face, head and brain injuries for the motorcyclists wearing full face helmets..
