Get your clients/patients to “shred safe”
As the sport of mountain biking grows in popularity so too does the number of injured riders we see in our emergency departments. ER and Public Health doctors are reminding riders to “shred safe” this season so they don’t land in an emergency department and cut their riding season short.
“We see mountain bike riders in our emergency rooms every day — broken bones, concussions, internal bleeding, organ damage and head and spine injuries,” says Dr. John Carsley, Medical Health Officer with VCH. “Last season 100 mountain bikers needed major emergency surgery.”
Peter Giesbrecht was one of those statistics. In October, while riding a trail on Mount Fromme, the Burnaby resident fell off his bike and landed on a pile of rocks.
“I went over the handlebars and landed on my head. Even though I was wearing a helmet I broke my neck in four places, the most feared injury in mountain biking,” says Giesbrecht. “Mountain biking is an inherently dangerous sport. My best tip for riders — ride within your limits.”
One way to learn your limits and prevent injuries is by taking a skills course taught by a certified professional instructor. Skill development can benefit all riders from the beginner to the more experienced. Endless Biking, a mountain bike lesson, rental and tour operator in North Vancouver, is donating a two-hour private coaching session as part VCH’s safety awareness campaign. Protective gear is also included in the prize package. (VCH staff are not eligible to win but spread the word to your friends outside work!)
“Wearing the protective gear is key,” says Dr. Annie Gareau, emergency room physician, Whistler Urgent Care Centre. “About three-quarters of the fractures we see are upper extremity, so we recommend riders wear long sleeves and elbows pads in addition to the standard helmet, gloves, knee pads, and grippy shoes. A neck brace and body armour are a must if you ride in high speed downhill parks or take jumping features.”
The majority of the most serious injuries in B.C. last season occurred in:
- Whistler (58 per cent)
- North Vancouver (13 per cent)
- Squamish (10 per cent).
Eighty-nine per cent of patients were male. They stayed in hospital for an average of five days.
“Not surprisingly, an Alberta study showed that bicycling faster than usual increased riders’ risk of landing in the hospital by 2.6 times,” says Dr. Carsley. “I know you’ve heard it before, but slow down. The faster you ride, the worse the injuries can be.”
Other tips from mountain biking experts include checking the bike before riding to ensure it’s in good working condition and knowing the trail well before riding at full speed.
The initiative includes posters and a contest via social media. The campaign website, which includes contest details, is at www.vch.ca/shredsafe.