Bike helmets vital to keeping children safe

  • Published
  • By Air Armament Center
  • Safety Office
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  An unconscious young child being rushed into an emergency room is a heart-wrenching scene fraught with the possibility that the lives of the child and the parents will be forever changed. Unfortunately, this scene is played out daily at trauma centers across the country.

Each year, doctors and nurses treat thousands of children with severe head injuries resulting from a fall or collision while riding a bike, scooter, heelies, or skateboard. Many of these traumatic brain injuries lead to death or severe disability.

Nearly half of the children ages 14 and under hospitalized for bicycle-related injuries are diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. Those children who do survive often spend the rest of their lives dealing with paralysis, speech problems, depression, anxiety and the loss of motor skills. Fortunately, it is a fate that is avoidable.

A helmet can reduce the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent, according to data gathered by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. The American Medical Association calls a bike helmet the single most cost-effective safety device ever made. Yet, only 41 percent of children ages 5 to 14 wear helmets when participating in wheeled activities, while 35 percent of them wear them improperly, according to a national field study released by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and Bell Sports.

Children, especially preteens (ages 8 to 12), may think helmets are "uncool." Skilled young riders may think that a serious fall couldn't happen to them, yet many accidents are unavoidable and more damaging than children and parents realize. Experts tell us that a fall from as little as two feet can result in a traumatic brain injury. The AAC Safety Office encourages parents to make helmets a part of their child's game plan in all high risk activities. However, all people who ride a bicycle on Eglin or any USAF installation must wear a properly fastened and approved bicycle helmet.

Point out cyclists like Lance Armstrong as the "cool" example. Like football, hockey and even race car driving, bicycling, skateboarding and in-line skating are sports that require protective uniforms. A helmet is part of that uniform.

Studies show that parents who lead by example make a measurable difference in use of helmets by their children. Parents who sport helmets when they ride may be the most important factor in their kids' choice to wear a helmet. It's a simple, affordable habit you can foster to save your child's life.

How to choose the best bike helmet

Look inside of the helmet you are considering to find the label. Choose one that meets safety standards developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Snell Memorial Foundation, or the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

Worn properly, the helmet should sit on the head so that the front rim is just above the eyebrows. Before buckling the chin strap, have your child shake his head from side to side. If the helmet moves too much, it's too big and won't protect his head no matter how tight you pull the chin strap. Adjust the size with foam inserts supplied by the manufacturer.

The helmet should be comfortable and snug, but not too tight. When the chinstrap is buckled, your child should be able to open his mouth and feel the helmet press firmly against the top of his or her head.