Bicycles are a child's first vehicle as well as a fun way to get exercise. Children are fearless and bound to get some scrapes while they're having fun on their bikes. While you can't protect them from everything, a helmet is the most important piece of safety equipment your child has. Buy her first helmet when she gets her very first set of wheels so that she develops the habit of wearing a helmet early on.
Statistics
Of the 350,000 children admitted to the emergency room every year after bike accidents, almost half (130,000) are admitted due to head injuries, and approximately 200 of those children die every year. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI), three quarters of cycling-related deaths in the U.S. are from head injuries. Helmets can prevent up to 85 percent of head injuries.
Results of Brain Injury
Preventable personality changes that can result from head injuries include learning difficulties, difficulty concentrating, aggressive behavior, headaches and poor balance. If your child suffers from any of these personality-altering conditions that could have been prevented with a helmet, "Both of you will be aware of what they have lost," cautions the BHSI.
Fit
A helmet that fits poorly won't protect your child as it's designed to. The helmet should sit horizontally on his head (not tilted back behind the forehead) and fit snugly when strapped. If you can wiggle the helmet easily on his head or he can fit two fingers between the helmet and his temples, then it is too big. The chinstrap should fit snugly, but not so tightly that he can't open his mouth wide when it's fastened. If one helmet is too big but the next size is too small, choose the larger helmet and use the dial in the back and thicker inner pads (usually included with children's helmets) to fit a smaller head. All helmets sold in the U.S. must meet Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards, so as long as your helmet fits properly, it is safe.
Make Sure the Child Wears It
A helmet is useless if it isn't on a child's head during an accident, so don't allow her to get on her bike, scooter or inline skates without it. The most important thing you can do to ensure that she will wear her helmet is to buy one she likes. Use peer pressure to your advantage by encouraging her friends to wear their helmets. Ask other parents in the neighborhood to be as strict about helmet usage as you are. Set a good example yourself by always wearing your own helmet. Point out professional athletes who wear helmets (e.g. cyclists, football players and horseback riders) so that kids begin to consider helmets "cool." Finally, explain to her that wearing a helmet is for her safety. She should understand that it is not an arbitrary rule.
Warnings
Check the CPSC website occasionally to make sure that the model your child uses hasn't been recalled. Remember to check the fit of his helmet regularly and correct the slippage of any adjustable parts. Finally, helmets can cause injuries if they catch on something when children are playing on playgrounds or climbing trees. Make sure that your child knows to take his helmet off when he gets off his bike.
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