Personal Injury Law

Preventing Brain Injury - Which helmet is right for you?

By Megan Roth

Despite knowing of the increased risk you face, many of you still don't wear a helmet when you ride a bike.  What's worse is that even many of you who do wear a helmet don't wear it properly.  There are right and wrong ways to wear a helmet.  Those of you who at least wear a helmet get an "B" for effort, but effort alone isn't going to prevent a traumatic head injury in the case of an accident.

In order for the helmet to actually prevent (or at least lessen the risk of) an injury, it must be worn flat atop the head.  In order to insure that the helmet doesn't tilt back, make sure it fits snugly and always buckle the chin strap (which should also fit securely across the chin).  Always make sure the helmet isn't worn too high on the head, which can cause the helmet to dig into one's neck and may even cause whiplash.  Similarly, the helmet shouldn't be worn so long that it obstructs your field of vision.  A helmet should be positioned so that, in the case of a crash, the helmet hits the pavement first and protects your face. 

One way to ensure this is to purchase the right kind of helmet.  Believe it or not, there are several different kinds of helmets, each of which is designed for various types of bike riding (such as road, mountain, commuter, downhill racing, BMX, etc.).  Just as the models and designs differ, many of the materials used to construct such helmets differ as well.  Some types are made of a thin plastic shell with an interior layer of crushable EPS foam, while others consist of a hard ABS plastic shell with varying forms of interior foam.  Certain helmets need to be more durable as they are intended to withstand much rougher action on a more frequent basis; thus, helmets such as those used in BMX races are often made of fiberglass and/or carbon fiber.  Like most, these helmets are intended to handle major crash energy; when a crash occurs, the foam part of a helmet crushes and reduces impact to the brain.  Obviously, the thicker the foam the lesser the impact to the brain; however, thinner layers of more durable foam are often substituted in order to improve both comfort and practicality.

Don't forget to purchase a helmet that fits your head. Giving helmets as a gift isn't really a good idea. But gifting a gift certificate from the local bike shop is a way to make the gift fit the head that is intending to wear it.

And if you're worried about "hat head", stop worrying. Everyone has hat-head after a long ride. And the way your hair may look after a long ride is nothing compared to how your brain may function.

Finally, one other factor to consider: make sure the helmet is safe.  How do you know?  Check to see that it's stamped with a seal of approval from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.  If it's not, put it back and pick one that is.  Though it may not be as glamorous or ritzy as your original choice, it'll do much more for you in terms of serving an actual purpose.

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on June 04, 2008 (boomark / email).