After seeing an increase in the number of children rushed to hospital with serious head injuries, doctors have issued a plea to the community for parents to ensure their children wear bicycle helmets while riding pedal bikes.

The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital's Maternal Child team in a Letter to the Editor, warned that long-term neurological problems could be the end result of even seemingly minor head injuries.

KEMH's Dr. Eugene Outerbridge told The Royal Gazette yesterday that, having treated a number of children for cycling-related head injuries, medical personnel felt compelled to act - especially as many children may be expecting new pedal-bikes this holiday season.

"In the last four to six weeks, we've treated three children for these injuries," he said. "In all cases they were preventable to a high degree by simply wearing a helmet."

Published studies suggest up to 88 percent of cycling-related head injuries are preventable, Dr. Outerbridge said in the letter.

"We have further concern arising from the publications in the medical literature about the future potential for learning problems and other neurological dysfunction after otherwise apparently full recoveries from a head injuries in children," he added.

The medical personnel are appealing to both parents and the bike dealers to ensure that new bikes are paired with properly constructed and fitted helmets.

While Bermuda does not have legislation making the wearing of helmets of pedal bikes mandatory, Dr. Outerbridge said the example set by parents and other adults in the community can be as powerful as new laws.

"This is very much an awareness issue," he said. "In many parts of the United States and Canada there is such legislation. But in some places people simply thought there was legislation while that was not actually the case. It (wearing a helmet) was just the thing that you do."

Public education campaigns can increase helmet use by up to 45 percent, he said.

"Really it's about parents and adults talking to kids about wearing bike helmets and wearing them as well."

He added: "There is evidence that these helmets reduce mortality even when bikes are involved with collisions with motorised vehicles."

The doctors also applauded bicycle dealerships who are promoting the purchase of helmets alongside new bicycles.

"Our appeal to parents is: Please remember for your child's safety and well being to ensure your child always wears a bicycle helmet when riding his or her bicycle or other wheeled vehicle, and that the strongest influence, is the example you set," the KEMH group wrote.

In the letter, the group offer a number of suggestions on how parents might persuade children of the importance of helmets and also stressed that helmets should be properly fitted and meet specific safety standards.

The doctors recommended helmets which have been passed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and bear the organisation's sticker.

Any helmet that has been in a crash should be replaced, the letter said, as should helmets older than five years.

"Brains don't heal like cuts or broken bones," the letter said.