Helmets

Choosing the Right Helmet
A helmet:

• Is designed for a specific activity - cycling helmets are the only helmets designed to absorb the type of impact that may be encountered in a cycling crash or fall. It absorbs the blow and minimizes violent movement of the brain within the skull.
• Distributes the blow over a larger area, thus reducing the chance of skull fractures.
• Provides protection from the sun, reducing risk of heat exhaustion and dehydration while riding.
• Is lightweight, well ventilated and comfortable.

When buying a helmet:

• Buy only cycling helmets that meet one of the following standards: CSA, ASTM, CPSC, Snell, ANSI. Only use an approved helmet.
• Approved helmets come in three types:
  • Thin Shell: has a thin layer of plastic over the foam liner and is lighter than hard shell helmets.
  • Hard Shell: has a thick hard covering over the foam liner and may prevent a sharp object from puncturing the helmet.
  • Multipurpose: the standards for biking and inline skating are identical, so a bike helmet can be used for both activities. Some helmets are certified for multi-purpose use to be used for both bicycling and sports that have multiple impacts such as skateboarding. Do not use a helmet that is certified only for cycling for multiple impact activities such as ice skating. Helmets certified for cycling are meant to only protect from one impact and then need to be replaced
• Small children have weaker neck muscles, so their helmets must be lighter. If you are unsure about the correct helmet weight for your child, check with your doctor. Head size does not change significantly from the age of five years, so a helmet should need to be replaced only when it is worn out or involved in a crash.
• Buy from a store with knowledgeable sales staff to help select and fit the helmet properly.
• Choose a bright colour - dark colours are difficult for motorists (or anyone) to see. If you choose a dark colour, ask for brightly coloured decals that can be applied without damaging the helmet.
• Choose a helmet with a good foam lining for the best fit. The best types have a complete or almost complete inner liner. Ensure that there are enough vents in the helmet to allow for maximum coolness. Select one with adjustable straps and a quick-release buckle that fits snugly and does not pinch.
• Do not trade safety for style - but make sure the person wearing the helmet likes the one selected and will wear it.

Make sure it fits:

Most helmets come with sizing tape to measure your head size. If the helmet you intend to buy does not have a sizing tape, ask the stores' sales representative to help you find the right sized helmet. Wrap the sizing tape around your head just above your ears and pull it until it is snug. Fold the end of the tape to mark the position, then remove the tape and read the size. Choose the helmet that fits your size.

Try before you buy - get the right fit and weight. All helmets fit differently. A helmet should fit snugly, but without a feeling of pressure all over the head or at a particular point. Conversely, a helmet should not be too loose or it may cause injury if it turns on the head on impact. You should not be able to fit your fingers up between your head and the helmet.

Use the foam pads that come with your helmet to adjust it until it conforms to the shape of your head. Proper placement of the pads is critical, so read the directions carefully. The helmet should touch the head at front, back, sides and crown. Adjust the straps for a snug fit - not too tight but, above all, not too loose. Always buckle the straps. A helmet not buckled is useless!

 

The helmet is properly worn squarely on top of the head, covering the tip of the forehead and about 1 - 2 cm above the eyebrows.

Adjust the straps through the buckles so that they form a "Y" with the joint just below each earlobe. The chin strap must fit well under the chin, up against the throat, and be as snug as possible. You should be able to open your mouth comfortably. With the helmet on, and the chin strap tightly fastened, the helmet should not be able to be rolled backward or forward excessively, nor should it be possible to remove it from the head altogether. Excessive movement in either direction can be eliminated by adjusting the buckles. Move the buckles forward to remove excessive rearward movement and rearward to remove excessive forward movement. Once the buckles have been properly adjusted, it may be necessary to readjust the chin strap.

Look after your helmet:

• Do not bash it around. Bicycle helmets are designed to absorb only a single hard blow.
• Check the helmet frequently for damage. If a crack is found, buy a new one. Check screws and fasteners to make sure they are secure.
• Never paint or put decals on the helmet unless specified by the manufacturer.
• Do not use cleaning fluids. Wash with warm, soapy water.
• Always replace a bike helmet after a crash. The expanded foam lining loses most of it's protective value after being compressed by an impact or several blows at once. The damage is rarely visible - the helmet may look intact, but it won't protect you in a subsequent crash.
• Replace old helmets at least every five years - more frequently if you ride regularly.
• Wear your helmet whenever you ride. A helmet is useless if you don't use it. Remember, falls and crashes can happen any time, any place, whenever you are on your bike.
• Make helmet use a habit from the first ride. Encourage your children to use their helmets always. Do not let them cycle without them.
• Be a good role model. Wear a helmet whenever you ride your bike. Remember, many bike crashes happen close to home.

How to get children into the helmet habit:

• Let your children help pick out the helmet. They will be more likely to wear it if it is a model that they like.
• Always insist that your child wear a helmet. Falls and crashes are just as likely to occur close to home as not!
• Be a good role model. Wear your own helmet always when your ride.
• No helmet, no bike! If your child will not wear a helmet, the bike stays at home.
• Reward and praise your child for wearing a helmet, especially if he or she does so without being told.
• Educate your children. Teach them that:
  • Bikes are not toys - they are vehicles
  • An injury to the brain is forever - it cannot be fixed like a broken arm. Some children die from their injuries and others live the rest of their lives with a disability.
  • Most professional athletes wear helmets while participating in sports: hockey players, football players, Olympic cyclists.
  • You value them and their brain.
  • Use positive peer pressure. Encourage your child's friends to wear helmets.
  • Take your kids to watch a race. The men and women racers wear helmets, and this makes an impression. Amateur races sanctioned by provincial cycling associations are best (helmet use is mandatory).
  • Suggest that your local school enact a helmet rule for children riding at or to school.
  • Helmet habits are easier to establish earlier than later. Start your child off immediately with a helmet, while he or she is still on a tricycle or in a carrier seat.
  • Be consistent! Every time, every ride, like buckling a seat belt.
  • Encourage other parents to buy their children helmets. Emphasize the importance of a bicycle helmet for their child's safety.