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Fitness: Choosing And Using Bike Helmets

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May 25, 2006 5:53 am US/Eastern

Fitness: Choosing And Using Bike Helmets

Stephanie Oakes
NEW YORK (CBS) ―

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May is Bike Month NYC. Fifteen states, including New York and California, and parts of Canada, have mandatory bike helmet laws for kids and recommend them for all adults.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission sets standards for cycling and skating helmets, so look for a sticker saying the helmet meets the commission's standard. The standard inline skating helmet is identical to the standard bicycle helmet.

Helmets must be worn correctly in order for them to work properly. Many helmet users don't secure their helmets level on their heads; others don't adjust the straps properly. I see kids all the time who don't even snap the chinstrap, so, if they fall, the helmets aren't of much use. Additionally, make sure that your helmet isn't tilted back on your head; this leaves our foreheads vulnerable if we fall.

To ensure a proper fit:

--The helmet should be worn low on the forehead (two fingertips above the eyebrows).

--The helmet should sit flat on the head, evenly between the ears.

--The chinstrap should be tightened and the inner pads adjusted so that the helmet fits snugly.

--The helmet shouldn't move from side to side.

These guidelines will ensure that the helmet can absorb the energy of an impact. Additionally, the helmet should be made of crushable, expanded plastic foam that has a hard outer shell to protect against collision with a sharp object.

Most reputable sporting goods stores carry standard safety helmets for all ages, except for children younger than 1 (I don't know anyone who recommends taking an infant on a bicycle).

Always look for helmets with vents (which kids appreciate) and, for toddler helmets, sets of fit pads (to adjust for growth).

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