Riding a bicycle is great exercise and enjoyable recreation. For some people, bike riding is also a practical alternative to driving to work or school. Anytime you ride, you should wear a helmet. A good bicycle helmet is the best piece of safety equipment you can use. However, you should educate yourself about bike safety and practice defensive biking. Even the best helmet is no substitute for safe biking habits.
Significance
The International Bicycle Fund says that three quarters of all bicycle deaths involve injuries to the head. While the overall risk is small, many of these tragedies could be avoided if more people wore helmets. This is particularly true for children who have less experience riding. KidsHealth points out that 300,000 children require medical attention for bicycle related injuries each year and 10,000 are hospitalized. You should always wear a bike helmet, even for short trips. Don't assume a quiet street is without any risk. Up to 90 percent of bike accidents don't involve cars.
Selection
Bicycle helmets are rated for safety by the US Consumer Products Safety Commission. Helmets that meet CPSC standards carry an identifying sticker. Good helmets generally have an outer shell of hard fiberglass or similar material that is impact resistant. Inside the shell is a liner of stiff polystyrene that acts as a shock absorber. Don't confuse the liner with foam padding. Padding adds to comfort and is a nice feature but does not add appreciably to the protection provided by the helmet. You should also choose a helmet that has a strong chin strap and buckle.
Fit
A bike helmet should not wiggle or rock from side to side when you wear it. Movement to the front and rear is normal, but should not be enough to allow the helmet to slide down below the forehead or up so far the forehead is exposed. In its normal position a properly fitted helmet should sit level with the forehead covered. The chin strap should fit just under the ears.
Considerations
When you wear your bike helmet, always fasten the chin strap. The strap should be snug without choking. There should be enough give to fit one finger under the strap. KidsHealth says you can add to visibility by choosing a brightly colored helmet and/or adding reflective stickers. Trim excess material from straps. You can add other safety accessories as well. For example, riding gloves help reduce injuries to the hands in the event of a fall.
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