Bike Helmet Facts & Tips When you ride, wear your helmet. Your example will encourage your children to wear one. 08/21/06 (Excerpts Courtesy of HEADstrongTM) Respond to this story Email this story to a friend ... ... The majority of bike crashes occur in parks, on bike paths or driveways. The most common place for bike/motor vehicle incidents are on "quiet" residential streets. Nearly 1 million children under the age of 14 are treated each year for bicycle injuries. More than 260,000 children admitted to hospitals annually with bicycle injuries are suffering head trauma. Fatality rates rise rapidly from the age of five and are highest among children 10 to 13 years old. Boys are injured twice as often as girls. Fatalities are more likely to occur during warm months (May thru September). Peak hours are after school from 3 to 6 p.m. Never let your children ride without helmets. They absorb and distribute the impact of the crash. Talk to them about why you want them to protect their heads. Explain that the brain is fragile and damage to it is permanent Let your children select a helmet they like (SNELL or ANSI approved). When you ride, wear your helmet. Your example will encourage your children to wear one. Begin the helmet habit early. It will become natural as your children grow. Encourage others to buy and wear helmets. How To Fit Your Helmet A common mistake is to wear the helmet tipped too far back. It should be level front to rear and side to side. This is necessary to protect the frontal lobes of the brain. To be sure, the helmet is properly positioned, look in a mirror with your head slightly turned. Once you have determined the correct placement, adjust the straps so the helmet will stay there. Two straps joined with a "tri-glide" form a V. The front and rear strap of each V should be snug when a tri-glide is positioned just below the earlobe. The buckle strap should also be snug, but not to the point that it causes discomfort or difficulty swallowing. You should feel the strap against your skin and be able to slide a finger under it. Size your helmet to your head using pads of the proper thickness. Change and locate them as needed to make it snug without being uncomfortable. To test the fit, shake your helmeted head from side to side. If the pads are properly placed, the helmet will stay in place. It is recommended that you re-adjust the straps every time you wear a helmet. After all, if you care enough to buy a helmet, make sure you get the most protection possible! Courtesy of FEMA Rodney says, "Nearly 1 million children under the age of 14 are treated each year for bicycle injuries."