HEAD TRAUMAS ACCIDENTS WITHIN MOTORCYCLE USERS CAN BE

PREVENTED JUST BY USING A HELMET.

SANTIAGO PARRA VILLADA 11Z

21ST CENTURY SKILLS

NICOLE VALERIA FLÓREZ AGUDELO
COLEGIO BENEDICTINO DE SANTA MARIA
OCTOBER 15TH, 2020
INTRODUCTION:
In this paper, what I’m trying to do is to contextualize the problem and necessity of
neurosurgery residents and doctors in Colombia. In 2019, almost 44% of accidents
happened within motorcycles causing deaths to their occupants. [ CITATION DIE19 \l 9226 ]
This percentage increases enormously if riders doesn’t use helmet, because when
accidents occurs, mortality rates increase, basically because the skull gets exposed to head
traumas.[ CITATION Liu08 \l 9226 ] In this type of situations is where neurosurgery doctors
appear. They are fundamental in the life of many of this motorcycle and car riders who
suffer the worst consequences just because not taking the appropriate measures of
protection when driving.
Hector Abad Gomez, Colombian famous doctor and philanthropist once said that medicine
doesn’t just composes by treating the patients, but most importantly it should prevent
patients from acquiring diseases or being involved in accidents. That’s why I am devoted
to study medicine and to specialize in neurosurgery. It seems for me a very good and
interesting path to follow for my professional life and future. I’m also aware that
neurosurgery is one of the most difficult specialties, because of the complexity of the
human brain, the density of books and information who need to study, but I think like
must be a challenge, life must be lived doing difficult things that most people don’t do.
That’s why I’m going to be a neurosurgeon.

PROBLEM:
Accidents are one of the highest death related occasions in society. In 2019, 6634 people
died because of Motorcycle accidents in Colombia, increasing almost 2.5% than the
previous year.[ CITATION Red20 \l 9226 ] Motorcycle users are the most vulnerable to
deaths, because of the condition of the vehicle itself. When you are involved in a
motorcycle accident, who are basically the one who receive the damage, not the car (in
case of car users) this is why motorcycle accidents end up causing severe damage and
traumas all around the human body. In any case, specifically head traumas are very
problematic. Not using helmet, creates the perfect condition for the skull suffering the
100% of the impact, breaking it into pieces and exposing the vulnerable brain to the
outside. This pieces could also bury in the brain itself, causing severe hemorrhage and
death if not taken properly cared soon. [ CITATION May11 \l 9226 ] This is why, I’m trying to
insist to create a well-known prevention campaign for motorcycle users and the use of
helmets. Life’s can be saved with just using a helmet. Neurosurgery doctors wouldn’t need
to be involved in such hurries saving people’s life and motorcycles users could improve
the rate of mortality in car accidents. This campaign must be spread into all the population
to prevent more unnecessary deaths. I would like to talk with a neurosurgeon to know
more about this problem in order to safe more people with the prevention campaign I
want to do.

References
BENAVIDES, D. Z. (3 de Octubre de 2019). 44% de los muertos en vías de Medellín iban en moto,
¿cómo frenar el problema? El Colombiano.

Liu BC, I. R. (23 de Enero de 2008). Cochrane. Obtenido de Cochrane.org:

https://www.cochrane.org/es/CD004333/INJ_los-cascos-demostraron-reducir-el-
traumatismo-craneoencefalico-y-la-muerte-en-los-motociclistas

*In this previous article, they have talked about my point. They made a research about head
traumas and motorcycle accidents and that’s is what they found out.

Mayo Clinic. (2011). Traumatic brain injury. Rochester, Minnesota : Mayo Clinic .

Redacción Carroya. (15 de Febrero de 2020). Carroya. Obtenido de Carroya.com:

https://www.carroya.com/noticias/noticias-y-lanzamientos/la-mitad-de-los-accidentes-de-
transito-son-en-moto-4534#:~:text=El%20bolet%C3%ADn%20estad%C3%ADstico%20se
%C3%B1al%C3%B3%20que,comparaci%C3%B3n%20con%20el%20a%C3%B1o%20anterior.

Consequences of a Head Injury from a Motorcycle Accident

Written by: Julie Johnson
Link:https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/consequences-of-a-head-injury-from-a-
motorcycle-accident-33395
* The difference between this article and the other was that this article was written by
health lawyer that specializes in head trauma accidents within insurances. It’s
interesting because it bring another perspective and point of view of the same
problem.

Are There More Traumatic Brain Injuries from Motorcycle Accidents?

Written by: Spinal Cord team

Link: https://www.spinalcord.com/blog/are-there-more-traumatic-brain-injuries-from-motorcycle-
accidents

* This text is important because it debunks some myths about traumatic brain damage in
motorcycle users. Gives and extra perspective with scientific facts about the topic.