If you are riding a bicycle, you should be wearing a bicycle helmet. Whether you are a first-time biker, or a die-hard cyclist, you need a helmet to protect your head. Even careful bikers are at risk for accidents, and the last part of your body you want to injure is your head. Buying a helmet is a good first step if you do not already own one, but your helmet will only protect you if you are wearing it, it is up to standards and fits correctly.
Why You Need a Helmet
According to research done by the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, the average careful bike rider will get into an accident approximately every 4,500 miles. This equates to one crash every three years for someone who bikes only 5 miles per day. In the U.S., a half-million bikers are hospitalized annually after accidents. Eight hundred more die. Most accidents involve injuries to the face and head. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 85 percent of head injuries would have been prevented by a helmet. If these reasons are still not good enough to convince you that you should be wearing a helmet, consider that it is also against the law in many states not to wear a bicycle helmet.
How Helmets Work
Bicycle helmets are designed to decrease the force of the impact to your head. There are three main components of a helmet that work together to ensure your safety: the foam structure, the strap and clip and the thin plastic outer shell. The function of the firm foam is to cushion the blow. The strap and the clip are important because they keep the helmet securely on your head during an accident. The thin plastic shell serves two purposes: It allows the helmet to easily skid on pavement, thus protecting your neck. It also helps to hold the firm foam together after you are hit.
Standards
The inside of your helmet should have a sticker that certifies the highest quality of protection. The sticker will show that your helmet was approved by one of three organizations: the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Snell Memorial Foundation. The ANSI and Snell certifications are voluntary, and the Snell certification is the tougher of the two. ANSI-certified helmets meet the same standards now required by the CPSC. Any helmet made and sold in the U.S. after 1999 must comply with these new CPSC standards.
Fitting Your Helmet
Even if your helmet meets all the safety standards, it will only confer that protection if you are wearing it properly. Your helmet should snugly and comfortably fit low on your head in a level position. It is too loose if it can tilt forward and backward, and too tight if it is painful. Adjust the straps so they are even against your head and form the shape of a letter "Y" around your ears. Your helmet fits properly if you can squeeze just one finger between your chin and the strap. If your helmet feels uncomfortable or not snug enough, use the self-adhesive foam pad inserts that come with helmets, and keep adjusting the helmet until it feels right.
Replacing Your Helmet
There are good reasons to consider replacing your helmet. If your helmet was made before 1999, and does not meet current standards, you are better off buying a new one. Helmet makers recommend replacing helmets after 5 years, in any case. You definitely need to buy a new helmet if you are in an accident involving your helmet.--even if you don't notice any damage. The foam can be crushed and dented in an accident, and will not work as well if you crash again.
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