The Importance of Bike Helmet Safety

Any time you go out on the road or the trails on your bicycle, it’s important to gear up with a helmet. Observing bike helmet safety in Naples, FL can save your life.

While a helmet will not necessarily prevent a brain injury, it will absolutely reduce the risk of severe, structural brain injuries (by up to 85 percent, according to some studies). Helmets also drastically reduce the risk of physical injuries such as skull fractures and other structural damage.

There are three main ways in which helmets protect your head:

• They prevent direct contact between an impacting object and the skull by providing a physical barrier between them.
• They absorb energy from the impact and significantly cut down on the forces that would otherwise be transmitted to the brain and skull.
• They spread out the force of the impact across a wider surface area to prevent it from being focused on one particular point of the skull.

Selecting a helmet

You can find helmets in a wide range of styles and sizes. In addition to choosing one of a style you like, it’s also important to make sure it properly fits—otherwise, it will not provide you with the full safety benefits you should be able to expect from using a helmet.

Always try on your helmet before you make a purchase—everyone has a different head shape, so you’ll want to make sure the one you select fits you comfortably and snugly. Here are the steps you should take to make sure you get a proper fit with your chosen helmet:

• Check the size: It can be beneficial to measure your head first, before even trying on any helmets. This will give you an idea of the helmet sizes you should be looking at. Then, when you try on a helmet, you should make sure it fits snugly. When sitting flat on your head, it should not rock from side to side, and the sizing pads should fit securely.
• Head position: Make sure you position the helmet in the correct spot on your head. It should sit level on the head and low on the forehead—there should be one to two finger widths of space between the helmet and your eyebrows.
• Buckles and straps: The left buckle should be centered under the chin. The majority of helmets will allow you to pull the straps from the back of the helmet for adjusting the chin strap sizes. Adjust the slider on your side straps to create a V under and just in front of the ears, and lock the slider if you have the option to do so. You can then buckle your chin strap and tighten it until it is snug enough that you are only able to fit one or two fingers under the strap.
• Final checks: Make sure your helmet fits snugly, but comfortably—you should still be able to open up your mouth wide, but with the helmet pulling down on your head. It shouldn’t rock back and forth or forward into your eyes.

For more information about bike helmet safety and tips for wearing a bike helmet in Naples, FL, contact Big Momma’s Bicycles today.

Categorised in: Bike Helmet