by Dr. Jessica Cohn, pediatrician at Cleveland Clinic Children’s
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 51,000 people were injured in 2010 because of failure to wear a helmet while riding a bike. Helmets come in various sizes and taking the time to ensure a proper fit is important for your child’s safety. Wearing a bike helmet is not enough to keep your child safe from head injury — making sure that the helmet is worn properly can be the difference between a concussion and protection. Just because they say it is a one-size-fits-all model, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take the time to adjust the helmet correctly. May 9 kicked off Bike Helmet Safety Awareness Week and Cleveland Clinic Children’s has these bike helmet tips to share:
- The helmet should sit low on the forehead, resting just above the eyebrows. Once on your child’s head, make sure the protective inside pads are touching the front, back, sides and top of your child’s head. Many kids like to tilt their helmets back, forward or to the side, but the helmet needs to be perfectly level on the head. There’s an easy way to check to see if your child’s helmet fits properly: If you hit the helmet in the front, or the back, it shouldn’t move more than an inch. And, you should be able to shake your head vigorously without the helmet moving.
- The bike helmet strapsshould be secure and the chinstrap tight when your child’s mouth is closed. Many kids make the mistake of loosening the straps too much. The straps of the helmet need to be even and should form a “Y” that comes together right at the bottom of the earlobe and the straps should be snug against the head. The buckled chin strap should leave only enough room to allow one finger to be inserted between the buckle and chin.
- When buying a helmet, look for one that fits their head now and not one they will “grow into”. You don’t want the helmet to be too loose or too snug, so once the helmet is in place on your child’s head and the straps are fastened snuggly under her chin, move the helmet around to ensure it isn’t sliding. Try to slip a finger between your child’s head and the helmet to make sure it’s not too tight.
- It’s important to look for a sticker from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) when purchasing a helmet for your little one. This sticker will ensure the helmet meets all the federal safety standardsand that it will provide a high level of protection in the event of an impact. Also, parents should avoid helmets that come to a point in the front of the back. This is because the pointy tip of the helmet can catch on the ground and the child’s head could be twisted to one side or the other, resulting in a neck injury.
- Hand-me-down helmets are a great way for parents to save money and keep their kids safe, but make sure the helmet isn’t cracked, broken or has been in a crash. Keep in mind that used or older helmets might have cracks you cannot see and might not meet current safety standards if manufactured before 1999.
REMEMBER: It’s not always easy to persuade your child to wear a helmet, but when parents model proper safety, it goes a long way in encouraging children to do the same. Remember to wear a helmet while biking, roller skating or skateboarding. All kids should wear a bike helmet no matter the age or skill level.