Helmets are not Just for Kids
Friend and attorney Tom Doehrman recently and successfully represented a lawyer who sustained mild traumatic brain injury in Indiana after being hit by a car while riding a bicycle. Mr. Doehrman's website can be viewed at http://www.tortslaw.com/html/doehrman.html.
The New York Times recently did a piece advocating usage of helmets as safety gear for adults. After opining that helmets, these days, are stylish, inexpensive, and smart,LESLEY ALDERMAN tells us in Grown-Up Cyclists Need Helmets, Too:
Here is how to make a smart buying decision.
LOOK FOR A C.P.S.C. STICKER The sticker ensures that the product has met the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission’s standards. The commission requires that helmets be tested for impact resistance on special rigs, that they offer adequate peripheral vision and that their straps be sturdy, among other measures. Helmets are tested in a variety of conditions: when they are hot, wet, cold and at room temperature.
CHEAP CAN BE SAFE According to a study by the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, a nonprofit organization based in Arlington, Va., $10 helmets from Wal-Mart Stores and Target held up just as well as more expensive models from high-end outlets.
Last spring, the institute had an independent lab test six helmets in different price ranges. The report summarized its findings: “When you pay more for a helmet you may get an easier fit, more vents and snazzier graphics. But the basic impact protection of the cheap helmets we tested equaled the expensive ones.”
GET A GOOD FIT If the dork factor has been holding you (or your children) back, spring for a helmet in a color and shape you love — or at least do not hate. Check out the models from Nutcase, which feature bold graphics (stripes, flags, flames and such) in streamlined skater shapes. For more sophisticated styles, look at the options from Giro.
Whether you are buying for yourself or a child, be sure the fit is snug and comfortable. The helmet should sit two finger widths above your eyebrows, the straps should come under your ears and you should be able to open and close your mouth comfortably.
If your head tends to sweat, look for a helmet with vents.
LIGHT OR BRIGHT A helmet in a light, glittery shade makes you more visible and less likely to be hit on the road. If you ride in the evening, it is helpful to have a reflective helmet: The largest number of bicycle deaths in 2008 occurred between 6 and 9 p.m., according to the highway safety institute.
ONE FALL PER HELMETMost bike helmets are lined with expanded polystyrene foam, typically abbreviated as E.P.S. When you fall, the foam compacts (even though your helmet may look perfectly fine) and so will not cushion a subsequent blow adequately.
Because materials degrade over time, it is wise to replace your helmet every five to seven years. If your helmet dates from 2003 or earlier, buy yourself a new one.
BE A ROLE MODEL Wearing a helmet sets a good example for other riders and for children.
