Solution #85: Do Helmets Increase Head Injuries?

The number of recorded head injuries increased, but the number of deaths decreased. Previously, if a soldier had been hit on the head by a piece of shrapnel, it would have pierced his cap and probably killed him. This would have been recorded as a death, not a head injury. After helmets were issued it was more likely that a fragment of shrapnel would cause an injury rather than death. Thus, the incidence of head injuries increased, while the incidence of deaths decreased.

Source: Sloane, Paul
Categories: Clever, Statistics, Favorite

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