|
Wear a Helmet When You Ride
Wear your helmet because…
 More
than 85 million people ride bikes in the US, and only 1 in 4 wears a
helmet. About 800 people, including more than 200 children, are
killed each year in bicycle-related accidents; 2/3 of these result
from traumatic brain injury. Brain damage is not always fatal, but
it often causes learning disabilities, personality changes, and a
loss of the ability to think clearly.
Studies from hospital emergency rooms
show that a helmet can prevent 85%--almost all—of these problems. So
you don’t ever want to ride without a helmet, even close to home or
just around the block.
Fitting your helmet…
 Remember,
helmets are not hats! They should be level on your head and strapped
securely to protect your noggin from a fatal crash.
The fitting pads on the inside should
be touching your head all the way around, and the straps should be
comfortably snug. If your helmet doesn’t have fitting pads, it may
have an adjustable fitting ring, which should fit snugly all the way
around your head.
The rear (nape) straps and front straps
should meet in a Y, fitting just below your ear. You may have to
slide the straps across the top of the helmet to get these even on
both sides.
 The
last strap you should adjust is the chinstrap, which should be
comfortably snug.
The front of your helmet should sit
just above your eyebrows. For more information, go to
www.helmets.org. They have
fitting guides, safety ratings, and studies available on helmet use.
|
