Ribcap Providing Head Protection For Users of Assistive DevicesFall prevention is an imperative subject to discuss in the mobility world with over 70,000 injuries from crutches, canes and walkers back in 2010 alone. This essential discussion is needed to bring awareness to those who are susceptible to injury while using assistive devices including what is [...]
Ribcap Providing Head Protection For Users of Assistive Devices
Fall prevention is an imperative subject to discuss in the mobility world with over 70,000 injuries from crutches, canes and walkers back in 2010 alone. This essential discussion is needed to bring awareness to those who are susceptible to injury while using assistive devices including what is resulting in injurous falls.
Assistive Devices for Walking
Canes, crutches, and walkers are effective ways to alleviate the impact of mobility limitations for many people. It improves independence and privacy for some whereas others feel the freedom to move while feeling supported and safe thanks to their assistive device. Interestingly, what many may overlook is the potential for a fall, even with a device that is designed as a supportive tool.
Who Uses an Assistive Device?
Often it is assumed that assistive devices are predominantly used by the elderly, however, an Ohio study found that assisted devices are used for all ages, and those younger users (under 10 years) have the greatest risk of traumatic brain injury when falling. They also found that crutches are the number one mobility aid used by children and adolescents and over 25 percent of all users where involved in an accident that caused injury. The study further shows that while the majority of injuries did not require serious attention, 4 in 100 were serious enough to require hospital attention.
Assistive Device Injury Facts
According to Ohio researchers, the use of long term mobility aids, while intended to help people get around, sent more than 3,000 people aged 19 or younger to the emergency room in 2008, alone with Injuries continuing to rise among young people (related to the use of crutches, wheelchairs and walkers) rising up an estimated 8 percent annually between 1991 and 2008.
In the US, between 2002-2010, one study published results showing the rise of injuries across the US with 2009 presented 52,000 injuries compared to 2010, only a year on, they had increased to 70,000.
Be Safe With Ribcap's Soft Protective Head Gear
By now the question that we are thinking is ‘why is this happening’. While 7 percent of injuries are due to misuse of a mobility aid, three times out of four an injury is caused by obstruction such as a chair, curb, ramp etc, and not related to a fault or problem with the crutches that you purchased. Weather reigns high on the list such as storms or ice that may cause tipping of the assisted device.
This leads us to our next question ‘what can we do about this?’
Introducing Ribcap
Whatever the reason to be using an assistive aid, a protective helmet can be used to enhance the safety of a person's life. Protective helmets (also known as medical helmets) are designed to protect the head from all angles to reduce injuries.
At Ribcap, we believe that head protection is not only top priority for the safety of our users, but we also feel that medical helmets no longer need to be bulbous, bulky and stigmatizing. Over the past 10 years, Ribcap's passion has been driven through creating premium quality helmets that are non-stigmatizing and highly fashionable to match everyone's style, along with pure comfort and breathability for all-day wear.
Want to know more about Ribcap's fashionable designs, click here.