If you're about ready to hop on your bike to go for a ride in the warm sunshine, don't forget to put on your helmet. Helmets aren't intended only for children, as even the most seasoned biker can get into an accident and sustain injuries. However, wearing a helmet may reduce your risk of suffering from life-threatening injuries from a bike accident.
Why Wear Helmet
Colliding with a vehicle will likely cause the most serious physical injury to a biker, but even a low-speed fall from a bike on a bike path can be harmful, warns MayoClinic.com. Regardless of the underlying cause of your accident, you may sustain a brain injury if you hit your head on the ground. However, if you have a helmet on your head when your head hits the ground, the helmet will absorb some of the impact of the blow.
Statistics
Approximately 900 people are killed every year in bike-related incidents and about 60 percent of deaths involve a head injury, according to the U.S. Product Safety Commission. In addition, more than 500,000 people in the U.S. visit emergency rooms for bike-related injuries. Wearing a helmet may reduce your risk of sustaining a head injury by as much as 85 percent.
Choosing One
Find a helmet that is designated "safe" with a seal of approval from organizations such as the American National Standards Institute or the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The seal of approval means that a bike helmet has met standards and will adequately protect your head and that the chin straps are sturdy enough to keep the helmet on your head if you fall, collide or crash when riding your bike. Beyond the seal, however, you are responsible for making sure that the helmet you choose fits properly and doesn't impede your vision. A helmet shouldn't be able to move more than 1 inch in any direction or block even a small portion of your vision, recommends MayoClinic.com.
Safety Tips
You are also responsible for properly putting on your helmet for maximum protection. It should be level across your forehead, and the straps should be adjusted snugly and always fastened when you ride. Consider applying a reflector or blinking lights to your helmet if you don't have a helmet that is brightly colored and easy for vehicles to see in dim conditions. Finally, replace your helmet if it has already protected your head during a fall.
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