Sedgwick County, Kansas EMS
Bike Helmets
Bike Helmets: Headed
for the Proper Fit Right from the Start
It’s bike safety month, and the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and Bell Sports
want kids to be safe while riding bicycles or participating in wheeled
activities this summer. With more than 27 million children 5 to 14 riding
bicycles, helmet use and the lack of it continues to be an important public
health issue. In a new national
study recently released by the two organizations, data indicate fewer than
half (41 percent) of kids ages 5 to 14 wear helmets when participating in
wheeled activities, and more than a third (35 percent) of children who use
helmets wear them improperly.
Unlike some clothing and gear, which can be bought large and grown into, bike
helmets must fit from the start. Helmets that slip to the front, back or side of
the head expose parts of the skull, while extremely loose or unbuckled straps
can allow the helmet to completely fall off the head in an accident. Helmets are
only effective when they fit properly. Your child is also more likely to wear a
helmet if it fits comfortably and looks cool.
“We want kids to be safe and have fun while bike-riding or participating in
other wheeled activities,” says Dr. Martin Eichelberger, director of Emergency
Trauma Services at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and
CEO of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. “But all it takes is one fall to cause a
serious head injury, and we know that helmets are the single most cost-effective
way to reduce brain injury should a child have a bike accident.”
As part of an ongoing effort to promote bicycle helmet use and bicycle
safety, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and Bell Sports encourage parents to
learn – and then teach their children – the “Eyes, Ears & Mouth” checklist to
ensure proper fit.
- Eyes: The rim of the helmet
should be one to two finger-widths above the eyebrows.
- Ears: The straps should form a
“V” just beneath the ear lobe.
- Mouth: The buckle should be
flush against the skin under the chin; when the rider opens his mouth, he
should feel the strap snug on the chin and the helmet hugging the head.
And
remember, to be effective, a helmet must meet safety standards and be worn
correctly every time your child rides a bicycle.
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last update:
06/10/04
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