Be Hardheaded When It Comes to Wearing a Helmet

August 30, 2008

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Be Hardheaded When It Comes to Wearing a Helmet

by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P.
reviewed by Kathryn Clark, M.D., F.A.A.P.

If you haven't discovered this already, you will soon find out that it is extremely difficult to convince your child of the importance of bike helmets if you don't wear one yourself. The purpose of this article is to reinforce what you already know--that bicycle helmets save lives and significantly reduce the risk of head injuries--and to explain what to look for and consider when outfitting your child (and yourself!) with a bike helmet.

Standards
All helmets that have been made in the United States since April 1999 are required to meet standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Look for the CPSC sticker on any helmet you're considering buying. But know that these standards do not test how well the helmet fits on your child's head, so they don't tell the whole story.

Bike helmet laws
Unfortunately, the United States has no federal law that requires children to wear bike helmets. While some cities and states have their own laws regarding the use of bike helmets, each one is different. The bottom line? You, as the parent, should lay down the law when it comes to your child wearing a bike helmet, regardless of what the official law is in your town. The protection it offers is unquestionable.

Benefits, by the numbers
Little explanation is needed when it comes to how bike helmets prevent head injuries, but what you may not know is how significant the risk is. Approximately 300,000 kids a year wind up in the emergency room because of injuries sustained in bicycle accidents--a third of which are head injuries. Studies show that bike helmets can decrease the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent.

Common mistakes

Not wearing one. A huge mistake when it comes to bike helmets is the failure to wear one. A recent national survey reinforces this notion, finding that more than one-third of bike riders didn't even own--much less wear--a bike helmet. Even if you've gone out and bought a helmet for your child, chances are good that it spends its time perched on a shelf in the garage, not on your child's head. From the time your child pedals his first tricycle, make it a rule that riding requires a bike helmet, and don't leave it open for discussion.

Not wearing one close to home. Don't let your helmet rule slide if your child is just going to be riding around the neighborhood. You've probably heard the saying that most automobile accidents occur close to home. Well, the most typical bike accident also occurs nearby--within a mile of home--or on small neighborhood roads.

Poor fit. In order to protect your child from a head injury, a bike helmet needs to fit snugly and rest level on the top of his head. It should not slide front to back or side to side and should not tilt forward or backward. Make sure that the chin strap is buckled securely; also check to see that all straps sit against the skin, and that you can insert only one finger between the strap and chin. Many helmets come with pads that allow you to adjust the helmet's level of snugness.

Used helmets. Helmets are designed to protect your child in one single impact. Even if damage is not readily apparent, impact can make the helmet less protective, so steer clear of used ones if you don't know their history. Similarly, if your child has been in an accident that involved impact with the helmet, buy a new one. Also check to see what the manufacturer has to offer, since many helmets come with a lifetime replacement guarantee.

What to look for
The good news is that bicycle helmets don't have to cost you a fortune. Some stores sell them for as little as $10 (or less!). On occasion, local hospitals or organizations may offer them at a very low price to make them more easily accessible to all families regardless of income level.

Keep in mind that how much you spend does not necessarily correlate with the level of safety offered. The No. 1 protective factor is a good fit. Also be aware that many children are more concerned with fashion than safety, so while a fashionable bike helmet may cost more, your child may be less resistant to wearing it--and that's good news for everyone involved.


RELATED INFORMATION

			General Principles for Bicycle Safety
			Safety: Bikes, Scooters, Skates, Etc.

Created March 05, 2001
Reviewed June 08, 2001

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