Bike helmets: 3 things to know

Posted: July 10, 2024

It can be hard to get your child or teen to wear a bike helmet, but it is the most important thing your child should wear when going for a ride. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, bike helmets are the best way to lower head injury and death from bike accidents. [caption id="attachment_15061" align="alignright" width="450"] Helmets are the most effective way to prevent head trauma and death due to bike crashes.[/caption] In 2020, the CDC reported that there were 136,765 non-fatal bike injuries to kids in the United States. In that same year, 102 children died in bicycle accidents. Children ages 5-14 are at the greatest risk for bicycle injury. According to a 2018 study on bicycle helmet effectiveness, helmets can reduce the risk of:

• Head injury by 48%
• Brain injury by 53%
• Facial injury by 23%
• Fatal injury by 34%

"Bicycle accidents happen every day. If a child is wearing a helmet while riding and they crash, they probably will not end up in the emergency department for a head injury," said Megan Foltman, pediatric trauma program manager for Marshfield Children's. "Wearing a bike helmet is the first rule of bike safety."

Size is very important

You should make sure your child is with you when you pick out a bike helmet to ensure proper sizing. Studies have shown that children who wore poorly fitting helmets had double the risk of head injury compared with those who wore properly fitting helmets. This is especially true with those who had helmets that were tipped posteriorly, meaning too much forehead was exposed. When buying a bike helmet for your child or teen, it should fit snug on the head without giving the child a headache. When your child is wearing their helmet:

• The helmet should rest just above the eyebrows and not slide around on the head. Use the foam pads to raise or lower the helmet or pad the space if needed.
• The straps of the helmet should be adjusted to form a "Y' just under the ear of the child.
• The chin strap should be tight enough to pull down on the helmet when the child opens their mouth wide.
• They should be able to see the helmet if they look up.

Here are some sizing tips to keep in mind when you're picking out a helmet, or grab your helmet and follow along to get the right fit.

Do not reuse a crashed bike helmet

If your child is in an accident with a bike helmet, the recommendation is to get a new helmet. "When a helmet is in an accident, you may not be able to see any damage but it can become weaker and less protective.," Foltman said. Similarly, you should not buy a used helmet. You do not know what it has been through and may not be as secure as a new one.

Tips and tricks to get your kids to wear a helmet

One of the biggest problems with bike helmets is convincing children, especially middle schoolers and teens, to wear them. "Having discussions with this this age group about the risks of biking without a helmet can be beneficial," Foltman said. Besides helping to get a proper fit, bringing the child with you allows them to pick out the type of helmet they want. There are many different colors and styles of helmets, including those with special characters or spikes on them. The use of fun stickers that kids pick out and choose to decorate their helmet can also make it more personal. Kids and teens are also more likely to wear a helmet if their caregivers are wearing helmets, too. Marshfield Clinic Health System offers many programs for bike safety in central and northern Wisconsin. You can reach out to Megan Foltman at foltman.megan@marshfieldclinic.org for any questions or to learn more.