Use Your Head And Wear A Helmet

Why do you need a bicycle helmet?

A recent national study has shown that every year:

1. Head Injuries in bicyclist are noted in:
   • 65,000 emergency room cases
   • 7,700 hospital admissions
   • 40% of bicyclists admitted to hospital
   • 70% to 80% of fatally injured bicyclist
2. Bicyclists hospitalized with head injuries are 20 times as likely to die as those without.
3. Bicyclist injury rate are highest between the ages of 5 and 15.
4. 56% of fatally injured bicyclists are age 20 or older.
5. Death rates for male bicyclist age 20-54 have substantially increased in recent years.

What can happen top your head in an accident?

In a severe bicycle accident your skull may be fractured and your brain may be torn by penetrating objects and bone fragments. However, your brain may also be injured by violent impacts that leave your skull essentially undamaged. Most brain injuries are irreverisble.

The source of all these injuries is impact. When your head makes sudden, violent impact with something unyielding, the small part of your head that is hit stops moving immediately. But the rest of your head remains in motion. As a result, your brain and skull may break and tear before they too can stop moving.

Elements of a Good Helmet

A good helmet protects your head by giving your skull and brain a little time to match speeds with suddenly encountered objects.

The outer plastic shell, when present, adds load-spreading capacity and prevents objects from penetrating the helmet and causing injury to the head. The main body of the helmet has ventilation holes and is made of dense, crushable material that distributes and absorbs the energy of an impact. During an impact, your head actually crushes the helmet. Your brain thereby gains a little extra time and distance to slow down. As the helmet is crushed, it applies sufficient force to slow your head to a relatively gentle stop rather than the potentially lethal levels of force your head would sustain without a helmet.

To ensure a comfortable and snug fit, your helmet may be lined on the inside with comfort padding.

The chinstrap is also very important. In the event of a crash, it must keep the helmet on your head so that you remain protected. It must be strong, comfortable to wear and well fitting. It should be buckled securely and snugly at all times.

The Snell Foundation Urges That You:

1. Make Sure Your Helmet Fits Your Head
   • Try the helmet on before you buy it
   • Adjust the chinstrap firmly but comfortably
   • Try another helmet size or design if simple hand pressure shifts
     or tilts a helmet significantly on your head or forces it off your head.
2. Wear Your Helmet Correctly
   • Wear it everytime your bicycle
   • Wear it low on your forehead just above your eyebrows
   • Always fasten the chinstrap firmly
3. Read and Follow the Directions Carefully
   • Only use manufacturer approved decorations and cleaners
   • Replace your helmet if it has been damaged
   • Replace your helmet at least every five years