NORFOLK, Neb. -- With summer in full swing, there are more people outside riding their bicycles across the state.

With the increased traffic, there is also an increase in injuries on bikes and motorcycles especially for the older generations.

“You can never predict when or how you’re going to fall," physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Faith Regional Health Services Dr. Mahmut Kaner said. "It can be a minor fall or it can be a major fall.”

Kaner said people over 40 years old can sustain brain injuries and spinal cord injuries that young people may not see.

Sustaining falls can lead to a narrowing of the spinal cord and cause arthritis.

“It really puts your nerves [and] spinal cord in a bad situation," Kaner said. "Therefore, we see a lot of partial paralysis or sometimes total paralysis from a fall.”

One of the major ways to prevent injuries from falls is by wearing a helmet.

Kaner said a helmet can protect someone’s head to prevent concussions and prevent any brain injuries like brain bleeds and traumatic brain injuries.

“We are the ones seeing the patients who are affected by these falls and it’s sad because these things can be prevented by wearing a simple helmet," Kaner said.

According to the National Safety Council, bicycle related deaths peaked starting in July and remain high through October in 2022.

In 2022, there were 1360 preventable bicycle-related deaths.

The Nebraska Safety Council offers these tips on wearing a proper helmet:

  • A good-fitting helmet should be snug.
  • The helmet should sit level on the head with the front edge no more than 1" above the eyebrows.
  • Adjust the sizing wheel or pads if the helmet shifts 1" or more when pushed.
  • With the chinstrap buckled, tighten it if the helmet moves more than 1" when pushed up from the front or back.
  • Straps should form a "V" under each ear; adjust for comfort.
  • The helmet should press against the forehead when the mouth is opened.