The Impact of a Repealed Motorcycle Helmet Law in Miami-Dade County

Gillian Hotz; Stephen M. Cohn; Charlie Popkin; Akpofure Peter Ekeh; Robert Duncan; William E. Johnson; Frank Pernas; Joseph Selem

The Impact of a Repealed Motorcycle Helmet Law in Miami-Dade County

Gillian Hotz, Stephen M. Cohn, Charlie Popkin, Akpofure Peter Ekeh, Robert Duncan, William E. Johnson, Frank Pernas, Joseph Selem

Wright State University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

<p> <h4> OBJECTIVE: </h4></p><p> To study the impact of helmet nonuse in motorcycle crashes after the repeal of a mandatory helmet law in the state of Florida. <h4> METHODS: </h4></p><p> We prospectively studied all patients evaluated at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center from July 1, 2000, through December 31, 2000, involved in motorcycle crashes, and compared them with those seen during the same time period the year before the helmet law change. <h4> RESULTS: </h4></p><p> In 1999, before the repeal of the helmet law, there were 52 cases evaluated at our center compared with 94 after the law change. Helmet usage decreased from 1999 (83%) to 2000 (56%). The number of brain injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale score > or = 2) during this same time period increased from 18 to 35, and the number of fatalities from 2 to 8. <h4> CONCLUSION: </h4></p><p> The repeal of a motorcycle helmet law significantly increased the number and severity of brain injuries admitted to our trauma center.</p>

Original language	American English
Journal	The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care
Volume	52
State	Published - Mar 1 2002

Keywords

Brain Injury
Helmet
Motorcycle
Outcome

Disciplines

Medical Specialties
Medicine and Health Sciences
Surgery

Cite this

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title = "The Impact of a Repealed Motorcycle Helmet Law in Miami-Dade County",

abstract = " OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of helmet nonuse in motorcycle crashes after the repeal of a mandatory helmet law in the state of Florida. METHODS: We prospectively studied all patients evaluated at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center from July 1, 2000, through December 31, 2000, involved in motorcycle crashes, and compared them with those seen during the same time period the year before the helmet law change. RESULTS: In 1999, before the repeal of the helmet law, there were 52 cases evaluated at our center compared with 94 after the law change. Helmet usage decreased from 1999 (83%) to 2000 (56%). The number of brain injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale score > or = 2) during this same time period increased from 18 to 35, and the number of fatalities from 2 to 8. CONCLUSION: The repeal of a motorcycle helmet law significantly increased the number and severity of brain injuries admitted to our trauma center.",

keywords = "Brain Injury, Helmet, Motorcycle, Outcome",

author = "Gillian Hotz and Cohn, {Stephen M.} and Charlie Popkin and Ekeh, {Akpofure Peter} and Robert Duncan and Johnson, {William E.} and Frank Pernas and Joseph Selem",

year = "2002",

month = mar,

day = "1",

language = "American English",

volume = "52",

journal = "The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Impact of a Repealed Motorcycle Helmet Law in Miami-Dade County

AU - Hotz, Gillian

AU - Cohn, Stephen M.

AU - Popkin, Charlie

AU - Ekeh, Akpofure Peter

AU - Duncan, Robert

AU - Johnson, William E.

AU - Pernas, Frank

AU - Selem, Joseph

PY - 2002/3/1

Y1 - 2002/3/1

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of helmet nonuse in motorcycle crashes after the repeal of a mandatory helmet law in the state of Florida. METHODS: We prospectively studied all patients evaluated at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center from July 1, 2000, through December 31, 2000, involved in motorcycle crashes, and compared them with those seen during the same time period the year before the helmet law change. RESULTS: In 1999, before the repeal of the helmet law, there were 52 cases evaluated at our center compared with 94 after the law change. Helmet usage decreased from 1999 (83%) to 2000 (56%). The number of brain injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale score > or = 2) during this same time period increased from 18 to 35, and the number of fatalities from 2 to 8. CONCLUSION: The repeal of a motorcycle helmet law significantly increased the number and severity of brain injuries admitted to our trauma center.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of helmet nonuse in motorcycle crashes after the repeal of a mandatory helmet law in the state of Florida. METHODS: We prospectively studied all patients evaluated at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center from July 1, 2000, through December 31, 2000, involved in motorcycle crashes, and compared them with those seen during the same time period the year before the helmet law change. RESULTS: In 1999, before the repeal of the helmet law, there were 52 cases evaluated at our center compared with 94 after the law change. Helmet usage decreased from 1999 (83%) to 2000 (56%). The number of brain injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale score > or = 2) during this same time period increased from 18 to 35, and the number of fatalities from 2 to 8. CONCLUSION: The repeal of a motorcycle helmet law significantly increased the number and severity of brain injuries admitted to our trauma center.

KW - Brain Injury

KW - Helmet

KW - Motorcycle

KW - Outcome

UR - https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/surg/4

M3 - Article

VL - 52

JO - The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care

JF - The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care

ER -

The Impact of a Repealed Motorcycle Helmet Law in Miami-Dade County

Abstract

Keywords

Disciplines

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