Strangulation by bicycle helmets. An underestimated danger

Two cases of fatal strangulation caused by the straps of bicycle helmets worn by children during playing activities are reported. Both cases had many characteristics in common such as the mechanism of suffocation, autopsy findings and the sites of the accidents, namely public playgrounds equipped with net climbing constructions. The lethal factor in both cases proved to be falling through the mesh of the net, which trapped the helmets resulting in the sudden tightening of the helmet straps by the entire bod weight. The resulting conclusions are discussed with respect to accident prevention.