Children ages 5 to 14 are seen in emergency rooms more often for injuries related to biking than any other sport, and wearing a bike helmet is the single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes. We know that helmets can reduce the risk of severe brain injury by 88 percent, yet only 45 percent of children 14 and under usually wear a bike helmet.
Finding the Right Bike Helmet
Make sure your child has the right size helmet and wears it every time when riding. The helmet should meet the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s standards.
Making the Bike Helmet Fit Properly
A helmet should sit securely on top of the head in a level position. With the helmet in position, the child looking up should see the bottom rim of the helmet, which should be one to two finger-widths above the eyebrows. The straps must always be buckled, forming a “V” around the ears, and be snug but comfortable.
With the strap securely in place, ask your child to open his or her mouth as wide as possible. The helmet should feel like it’s hugging the head. If not, the straps need to be tightened with the buckle flat against the skin.
In the event that you or your child has been hurt while riding a bike and that injury was the result of negligence from someone else – or due to a defective product – contact a Portland bicycle accident attorney from Rizk Law today for a free consultation. Ph: 503.245.5677.
