No matter what your age or level of experience, whenever you ride a bike, in-line skate, ski, or engage in other activities during which your head is vulnerable to injury, a helmet should be worn. Many states now have laws that require helmet use.
Wearing a bike helmet reduces the risk of serious head and brain injury by 85%. Helmets should be worn during every ride, no matter how short. Many accidents happen near home.
Children younger than 12 years should also wear helmets when sledding.
Why Helmets Should Be Worn?
Cuts, bruises, and even broken bones will heal, but damage to your brain can be permanent. Even a low-speed fall can result in serious head injury. Many such disabling injuries can be prevented by wearing a helmet.
How Helmets Protect You?
️When you are wearing a helmet during a fall or crash, the force of impact is distributed over the surface of the helmet, rather than concentrated on the head.
️The thick plastic foam (firm polystyrene) inside the hard outer shell of a helmet provides protection that cushions the blow.
A new helmet should be purchased after a crash. Even if the helmet appears fine, the interior may be damaged.
How to Choose a Helmet?
Take some time trying on helmets and choose one with the right size and fit.
A helmet should be:
Snug
It does not slide from side to side or front-to-back.
Level
It is square on top of your head, covering the top of the forehead. It does not tilt in any direction.
Stable
The chinstrap keeps the helmet from rocking in any direction. Chinstraps should be replaced if any part of the buckle breaks. Otherwise, a helmet may fly off in an accident.
Many bike helmets are ventilated, lightweight, and come in a variety of colors. Choose a helmet that motorists will see.
Children and Helmets
Children 5 to 14 years of age have the highest injury rate of all bicycle riders, and bike accidents are a leading cause of death for children.
Tips to help children understand the importance of wearing helmets:
Teach by example.
Adults should always wear helmets when doing activities that have the potential for collision.
Be aware that your child is more likely to wear a helmet if he or she likes the way it looks.
Ski Helmets
Head injuries can occur during skiing, and when they occur, they can be devastating. Helmets are sport-specific, so do not wear a bike helmet on the slopes. Ski helmets should be worn.
If we accept these tips we can safe as well.
5 tips for helmet safety
The front edge of the helmet should be two finger widths above the eyebrows.
If it's too far forward, the helmet could block your child's vision.
if it's too far back, your child might not be protected properly.
The helmet should be snug and not slide around once it's put in place. Try adjusting the straps.
The front and back straps should form a V just below your child's ear.
The front straps should be vertical and slightly in front of the ears.
The rear straps should be more horizontal and behind the ear.
When you open your mouth, the chin strap should be snug. When your mouth is closed,
one finger should be able to fit between your chin and the chin strap.
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References
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/staying-healthy/helmet-safety/https://www.choa.org/medical-services/wellness-and-preventive-care/summer-safety/helmet-safety
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