3rd injury prompts CareFlight plea for kids to wear riding helmets
One teenager's life was saved by wearing his bicycle helmet last night, but two other children riding scooters without them today suffered head injuries.
The stark contrast prompted NRMA CareFlight to issue a plea for children to wear helmets -- when riding scooters and skate boards -- in addition to riding bicycles when it is compulsory.
A 13-year-old Cabramatta boy's life was saved overnight because he was wearing a helmet when his bicycle was hit by a 4WD at Canley Vale, in Sydney's south-west.
An NRMA CareFlight doctor flew to the scene and placed the boy in an induced coma to start immediate emergency treatment of his fractured skull, severe head injury and extensive abrasions.
The boy was taken to Westmead Children's Hospital where his condition has improved -- thanks to the added protection the helmet gave when he was dragged some 20 metres under the 4WD in an alleged hit and run.
Twice today the NRMA CareFlight rapid response trauma team flew to injured boys who were left initially unconscious when they fell from scooters at skate parks -- and were not wearing helmets.
At Rockdale, in Sydney's south, a boy was left initially unconscious when he fell onto concrete while riding a scooter.
Ambulance paramedics and an NRMA CareFlight trauma team were alerted to the boy's plight shortly before 11.30 am.
The helicopter landed adjacent to the skate park near the intersection of President Avenue and West Botany Street.
The NRMA CareFlight doctor said the nine-year-old boy, from nearby Sans Souci, was left initially unconscious by what bystanders described as a two-metre fall from his scooter, from the top of the skate park wall onto concrete.
The boy's serious head injury would have been less severe had he been wearing a helmet, the doctor said.
After stabilisation the boy was taken under continuing treatment by the doctor, in a road ambulance, to the Sydney Children's Hospital for observation.
At Summer Hill, in Sydney's west, just five hours later at 4.30 pm ambulance officers called the NRMA CareFlight trauma doctor to treat another teenage boy who suffered head injuries in a fall from a scooter at a skate park.
The helicopter landed in a park adjacent to Summer Hill ambulance station, in Croydon Road.
The 13-year-old boy collided with another scooter rider and fell head-first onto concrete, leaving him initially unconscious.
Again, his injury was more severe because he did not have the protection of a riding helmet.
The boy was taken under continuing treatment by the doctor and ambulance paramedics to the Sydney Children's Hospital for further assessment and observation.
For further information please contact NRMA CareFlight director Ian Badham on 0418 245 748.
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