Riding a bike seems as innocent as any customary rite of passage of childhood or recreational activity, but every year nearly 1,000 people die from injuries related to bicycle crashes. Even more disturbing is that 62 percent of those deaths are from head injuries. With an additional 550,000 people needing emergency room care from bicycle accidents, bicycle helmets and their safety standards are an important part of this activity. Helmets are meant to take the blow of a fall, and protect the head to minimize injury.
History
In 1970, the Snell Foundation introduced the first standard for a bicycle helmet, but it was so tough only a motorcycle helmet could pass the test. Then in 1974, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, WABA, started collecting data on helmets and crashes. In the early 1980s, the Snell Foundation and WABA started working together on standards. The ANSI Z80.4 was the first official standard, set in 1984 with the Snell Foundation revising its standards as well. Those two standards set the stage for the testing and technology that are in place today.
Approvals
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC, sets the U.S. government's standard on bicycle helmets, which has been law since 1999. The CPSC standard applies to all helmets produced for U.S. customers since its passage. It is also the most used standard in the world. Prior to 1999, the American Society for Testing and Manufacturing, ATSM, F1447 was the most used standard, with over 70 percent of the world's production certified. It is still in effect but rarely used. The Snell Foundation has a standard that is higher in regard to impact levels than the CPSC or ATSM. The Snell B-1995 standard has slightly more head coverage and a different drop height to separate it from the CPSC or ATSM. Currently, the CPSC and B-19995 standards are very similar, with the main difference in the certification procedure.
Standards
The CPSC and ATSM standards say a helmet has to pass a test in which it is placed on a head form or mannequin, turned upside down and dropped a measured distance, normally between 3.3 and 6.6 feet, onto an anvil. The anvil can be in any position. For the helmet to pass, the accelerometer in the head form or mannequin needs to register less than 300 Gs during impact. There is also a strap and buckle test to make sure the helmet cannot be pulled off the head.
Fit
A helmet that has passed a CPSC, ATSM or Snell Foundation standard test will have a sticker that states the standards are met. The fit of the helmet is key to making sure the wearer is getting the safety benefit of the standard. To start, the straps must always be fastened around the chin. Adjust the straps so they are snug and the helmet cannot be pulled or twisted. Helmets should be worn level across the forehead, without a portion of the forehead showing.
Benefits
According to the Children's Safety Network, "Bicycle helmets prevent 52 to 60 percent of bike-related head injury deaths (for all ages), as well as an estimated 68 to 85 percent of nonfatal head and scalp injuries." In terms of financial costs, each person who wears a bicycle helmet saves automotive insurers $17 and health insurers $57.
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