HEALTH CORNER
Helmet Safety
Buckle Up! Here’s Why You Should Go Head-First Into Bicycle Safety With Your Kiddo
By Angie Fenton | Photos by Adam Kleinert
Less than five minutes after posting a photo
of my toddler, Olive, on her new tricycle while
haphazardly wearing her helmet on social media,
I received three inbox messages essentially saying,
“Your daughter’s helmet isn’t on correctly.”
Granted, we were in our carpeted living room
and had only posted the photo for fun, but I took
the messages seriously. Surely, I knew how to put
a helmet on correctly…didn’t I? I mean, I’d only
put it on for fun, but once we took her new trike
outside, would she be protected?
Almost 400,000 children younger than 19 years
of age are treated in U.S. emergency departments
every year for bicycle-related injuries. In 2016,
Norton Children’s Hospital had 22 bike versus
motor vehicle injuries and 183 bike-related
injuries.
Even if we were just tooling around in the
driveway, I thought after learning the statistics,
how can I keep my daughter safe?
First and foremost, said Sharon Rengers with
Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness, anyone
riding a bicycle – or tricycle – regardless of
age, needs to wear a helmet that meets safety
standards. Look for ones that have the Consumer
Product Safety Commission or American National
Standards Institute stickers on them. I bought
mine at Target brand-new. Speaking of which…
Sure, used clothes and toys are awesome and
save money, but “kind of like car seats,” said
Rengers, “they’re good for one crash. You can’t
always tell if it’s been in a crash or not.”
So, if you are looking at used – which is NOT
advised – look for cracks inside and outside
14 EXTOL SPORTS / OCTOBER 2017
the helmet and any evidence of a crash of any
kind. “I personally would rather just get a new
(helmet) instead of trusting that it’s not been
damaged before,” said Rengers, and I agree.
Safety first. Always.
When it comes to the proper fit, the helmet
needs to sit level on the head. Put two fingers
above the eyebrow; that’s where the front of the
helmet should be sitting, said Rengers.
Abel Belcher demonstrates
the wrong way.
Then, be sure one strap is placed before the
ear and one strap is behind it. After snapping
the straps together, an adult should be able to
fit only one finger below the chin. Ask your child
to open his or her mouth as wide as they can;
they should feel the snugness. But remember:
“It’s really important that you have it level so
you’re protecting all lobes of their brain,” Rengers
advised.
My tot isn’t exactly going for a jaunt on her
parent-steered bike, so does she really need a
helmet beyond the factor that (let’s face it) she
looks super cute?
“Yes,” said Rengers, emphatically, “you really
need a helmet – even on the driveway, on the
sidewalk in front of your house or any time.”
In addition to safety, what you’re also teaching
is a pattern, Rengers explained. “It’s like wearing
a seatbelt. You do it every time so when (kids)
are big and on their own, they do it every time.”
Abel Belcher demonstrates
the right way.
If you want more information about bicycle
helmet safety call Norton Children’s Prevention
& Wellness at 502.629.7358.