Parents in Helensburgh and Lomond are being urged to ensure their children wear a helmet when cycling after a significant increase in the number of children being treated for head trauma in hospital.
Eighteen incidents of moderate trauma have been dealt with by medics at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow in the three months since lockdown restrictions came into force, compared with only 13 for the whole of last year – an increase of 600 per cent.
Mark Lilley, major trauma co-ordinator at the RHC, said: “Fortunately, the vast majority of children are able to go home following assessment and treatment but for some children head injuries can be serious enough to require admission and can often go on to develop symptoms of concussion.
"This can lead to headaches, fatigue, poor concentration, poor balance or co-ordination, sensitivity to light or noise, changes in mood and nausea.
READ MORE: Police warning to Helensburgh cyclists as number of bike thefts rises in lockdown
“Please continue to encourage children to keep using their bikes.
If they have a helmet, please check it is the right size for them.
“If they do not have a helmet, then many shops have online guidance on how to measure your child’s head correctly to make sure they can get an appropriate sized helmet.”
“We really want to encourage people to keep cycling but to do it safely.”
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