Use Your Head – Wear a Helmet

Sports such as bicycling, skateboarding, and inline skating account for 50% of head injuries that occur in children engaged in recreational activities.

In fact, more children ages 5 to 14 are seen in emergency departments for injuries related to bicycling than any other sport.

The simple act of strapping on a helmet can reduce the risk of severe brain injuries by 88%. But, according to a national survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 48% of children ages 14 and younger wear a helmet while bicycling.

“Wearing a properly fitted helmet protects your skull and brain from injuries during falls. Any bicyclist who does not wear a helmet is at increased risk of head injury,” says Dr. Robert Wortring, a Hawaiʻi Pacific Health Medical Group pediatrician based a Kauaʻi Medical Clinic who's also the section chief of community pediatrics on Kauaʻi.

Before your keiki pedal out the door, make sure they have on a properly fitted helmet.

The right helmet for your child should be:

• Snug. It does not slide from side to side or front to back. Both the side and chin straps need to be snug.
• Level. It is square on top of the head, covering the top of the forehead. It does not tilt in any direction.
• Stable. The chin strap should be buckled at all times when riding, but not too tightly.

When buying a helmet for your child, be sure to choose a helmet that fits your child now, not one he or she will grow into. Have your keiki perform the following fit test:

• Eyes. Put the helmet on your head. Look up. You should see the bottom rim of the helmet. The rim should be one to two finger widths above the eyebrows.
• Ears. Make sure the straps form a “V” under your ears when buckled. The straps should be a little tight but comfortable.
• Mouth. Open your mouth as wide as you can. Does the helmet hug your head? If not, tighten the straps.

You should only buy a helmet that meets the bicycle helmet safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Any helmet meeting these standards is labeled. Check the inside for a label.

“Allow children to have a choice in the color and style of their helmet,” adds Dr. Wotring, noting children will be more apt to wear something they had a say in picking out.

“Educate them on the purpose of wearing a helmet,” Dr. Wotring says. “And be a role model and wear your helmet.”

Hawaiʻi state law requires that all kids younger than age 16 wear a properly fitted helmet while riding a bike.

Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety website for more information on bicycle safety.