By Dr. Herath Wijerathna
Reliant Medical Group Internal Medicine

Each year, more than 300,000 children go to the emergency room due to injuries caused on a bike. Accidents and falls while riding a bike can be very serious, especially head injuries. A simple $20.00 bike helmet can lessen the chance of a serious head injury and even save lives. In fact, it is believed that wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of head injuries to bicyclists by as much as 85%.

For proper safety, it’s important to make sure you pick a bike helmet that fits right and is suitable for you or your child. Most bicycle helmets are made of a foam material with a thin plastic shell. They are carefully designed to prevent head injuries. All approved bike helmets must meet standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). If you don’t see a CPSC sticker inside the helmet, keep searching for one that does. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when buying a helmet:

• Look for a helmet with a sturdy strap and a smoothly rounded outer shell.
• Dark helmets can be hard for motorists to see, so look for brighter-colored helmets that can provide more visibility.
• Helmets that feature a large number of air vents for ventilation may not provide as much protection as other helmets.
• Avoid “aero” style helmets as the tail of the helmet can cause it to snag or pivot during a crash.
• Helmet visors should be flexible, not rigid, so they will have less chance of snagging or shattering in a fall.

Keep in mind that in order for a bicycle helmet to give full protection, it has to fit properly. To learn the proper way to fit a bicycle helmet, please follow this link to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website which shows all the proper steps of fitting a bike helmet.

If you have children, it’s a good idea to start the helmet-wearing habit early. Even kids on a tricycle should wear a bicycle helmet. Letting your child choose their own helmet may make them more apt to wear it. Keep in mind a bicycle helmet can also be used for protection while roller skating or using a scooter.