对平民而言,在娱乐活动时戴头盔可提高安全性。关于美式足球、冰球及英式橄榄球等体育活动的研究证实重度头部外伤和颅骨与面部骨折显著减少。[11]McIntosh AS, McCrory P, Finch CF, et al. Does padded headgear prevent head injury in rugby union football? Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41:306-313.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19127196?tool=bestpractice.com[12]McIntosh AS, McCrory P. Preventing head and neck injury. Br J Sports Med. 2005;39:314-318.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15911597?tool=bestpractice.com关于滑雪板滑雪、滑雪术、全地形车及骑自行车等娱乐活动的研究也证实戴头盔后头部外伤风险显著下降。[13]Macnab AJ, Smith T, Gagnon FA, et al. Effect of helmet wear on the incidence of head/face and cervical spine injuries in young skiers and snowboarders. Inj Prev. 2002;8:324-327.http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/8/4/324.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12460972?tool=bestpractice.com[14]Rughani AI, Lin CT, Ares WJ, et al. Helmet use and reduction in skull fractures in skiers and snowboarders admitted to the hospital. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2011;7:268-271.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21361765?tool=bestpractice.com[15]Bergenstal J, Davisk SM, Sikor R, et al. Pediatric bicycle injury prevention and the effect of helmet use: the West Virginia experience. W V Med J. 2012;108:78-81.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22792660?tool=bestpractice.com[16]Miller M, Davidov D, Tillotson R, et al. Injury prevention and recreational all-terrain vehicle use: the impact of helmet use in West Virginia. W V Med J. 2012;108:96-101.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22792664?tool=bestpractice.com此外,关于头盔在自行车、全地形车及摩托车骑行者中的使用研究一致证实死亡和头部损伤显著减少。[17]Bowman SM, Aitken ME, Helmkamp JC, et al. Impact of helmets on injuries to riders of all-terrain vehicles. Inj Prev. 2009;15:3-7.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19190268?tool=bestpractice.com据报道,摩托车骑行者发生碰撞时,戴头盔可使头部损伤减少将近 70%。[18]Liu B, Ivers R, Norton R, et al. Helmets for preventing injury in motorcycle riders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(1):CD004333.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004333.pub3/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18254047?tool=bestpractice.com[19]Thompson DC, Rivara FP, Thompson R. Helmets for preventing head and facial injuries in bicyclists. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;(2):CD001855.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001855/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10796827?tool=bestpractice.com
但是,军事数据证实,即使穿戴头盔等个人防护装备,包括颅骨骨折在内的外伤性脑损伤发生率也非常高。[6]Galarneau MR, Woodruff SI, Dye JL, et al. Traumatic brain injury during Operation Iraqi Freedom: findings from the United States Navy-Marine Corps Combat Trauma Registry. J Neurosurg. 2008;108:950-957.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18447712?tool=bestpractice.com戴头盔军事人员的头部枪伤实际上加剧而非削弱了子弹损害和头部损伤的严重程度。[20]Missliwetz J, Wieser I. Gunshot wounds of the head in soldiers wearing military helmets - general aspects and experiments and observations on the biomechanics and wound morphology [in German]. Z Rechtsmed. 1989;102:41-54.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2922957?tool=bestpractice.com一个可能的解释就是,战斗相关的头部损伤经常是由高速子弹或爆炸引起。高速子弹会比低速子弹更深地穿透头盔。即使高速子弹未穿透头盔,子弹的冲击力也可以经头盔折断下面的颅骨并损伤下面的脑部。此外,爆炸损伤在某种程度上由冲击波效应引起,且个人防护装置不可能阻止这些压力波。
加强家庭功能的一级预防政策(例如密集的家访计划和家长培训)可能有所帮助。[21]Barlow J, Simkiss D, Stewart Brown S. Interventions to prevent or ameliorate child physical abuse and neglect, findings from a systematic review. J Child Services. 2006;1:6-28.预防头部损伤的家庭特定计划(包括新生儿病房的教育视频和新生儿父母签署的不要摇晃新生儿的协议)也具有一定作用。[22]Dias MS, Smith K, DeGuehery K, et al. Preventing abusive head trauma among infants and young children: a hospital-based, parent education program. Pediatrics. 2005;115:e470-e477.http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/115/4/e470.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15805350?tool=bestpractice.com尽管难以进行效果评估,但公开和专业的认知活动也可能起到一定的作用。