Bicycle Helmet Safety Tips

“You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself any direction you choose…” – Dr. Seuss

When the direction you choose has you on a wheeled conveyance like a bike or skateboard please make sure you are wearing a helmet.  The last few summers in my ‘hood we have had some scary incidents with children, bikes and cars.  Everyone was alright in the end but it was an unnerving experience for everyone involved.  I am all about minimizing risk.  Call me Mrs. Safety.

Excuse me while I step up onto my soapbox for another Public Service Announcement:  know the rules about sharing the road with bikes.  Most importantly, please ensure that everyone is wearing the appropriate safety gear.  Mainly wear a properly fitted and approved helmet.  After all, it is the law for anyone under the age of 18 to wear one.

An approved helmet should have a safety standards sticker on it.  Look for safety organizations such as the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Snell, ANSI, ASTM, BSI, CPSC and SAA.

The helmet should fit level and square on your head.  It should be snug and not slip when you move your head.
To check for proper fit:

• Use the sizing pads provided with the helmet to customize the fit
• You should not be able to get more than 2 finger widths between your eyebrows and helmet
• The straps should not be twisted and lie flat against the face
• The V-shape of the strap should be just under your earlobe
• The chin straps should be fastened snugly with only enough room for one finger between your chin and the strap

 

Review the Cycling and The Law section Ministry of Transportation for more great tips.
Thanks for listening and have a happy… and safe summer!