Sports training was the main activity which caused the most serious injury to

occur followed by walking/running, working, driving, biking and fighting.

There were significant gender differences in the activities which caused the

injury. A higher proportion of the male students sustained an injury while

participating in an organised activity, league or club (62% vs 35%).  A higher

proportion of female students (33%) sustained an injury while walking/

running in comparison to male students (12%) (Figure 8).  As a result of a

serious injury sustained by students, two thirds of the students lost at least

one day of college or usual activity.

Figure 8: Activity Resulting in Injury by gender

80

70

62

60

50

 (%) 40

35

33

30

20

12

13

11

12

10

9

Males

4

5

2

1

Females

0

Sports

Walking/

Working

Driving

Biking

Fighting

training

running

4.7.2 Road Safety

The vast majority of students were compliant with the road safety measures

of always using a seat belt when in the front seat of a car (82%) and wearing

a helmet (86%) when riding a motorbike. First year students were less

inclined to wear a seatbelt while in the front seat of a car in comparison to

third year students. However, only a quarter of students always used a

seatbelt in the rear of a car. Given that over half (55%) of all the students

reported using a bicycle (71% male; 45% female), the personal safety

measure of wearing a helmet when cycling was very low with only 10%

compliant. In fact the vast majority of cyclists rarely used helmets (83%

males; 75% females). Although helmet use was low, third year students were

more compliant with helmet use than first or second year students. Female

students had a greater proportion who were compliant with all of the road

safety measures in comparison to male students (Figure 9).

32