Helmets For Tricycle Riders
Young tricycle riders may not be riding big bikes in the street like
their older brothers and sisters, but bicycle helmets are just as
important for their safety.
According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute 75% of the bicyclists
who are killed every year in the United States die of head injuries.
Many thousands more suffer head injuries that can disable them for life.
Head injury is the most common injury young riders sustain in bicycle
and tricycle accidents. Only 3% of riders who were hospitalized with a
head injury were wearing a bicycle helmet when they were injured.
Since somewhere between 200,000 and 300,000 bicycles and tricycles for
pre-school children are sold in the United States every year, an equal
number of bicycle helmets should have been purchased. The actual numbers
indicate that thousands of pre-schoolers are not wearing helmets.
Many states now have laws requiring bicycle riders to wear a helmet.
Start out as you wish to finish is always a good plan. When you insist
that your young tricycle rider wears a helmet you are instilling good
habits for a lifetime. Of course, that means you have to wear a helmet
when riding your bike, too.
When buying a bike helmet, always look for a label that states the item
you are looking at meets the United States Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) standards.
Both "soft shell" and "hard shell" helmets meet CPSC standards. Hard
shell helmets have a tough outer cover over the protective internal
polystyrene. The hard shell offers a bit more protection against hitting
sharp or protruding objects, but it can be heavier and hotter. A soft
shell helmet lacks the hard outer cover, but the internal protection is
the same.
Be sure that any helmet you purchase fits squarely on your child's head.
It should not move easily when pushed or bumped. The chin strap should
fit snugly without pinching.
Bike helmets are available with either an adjustable inner piece which
can be enlarged as your child grows, or with small-to-large inserts
which can be traded out as needed. The built-in adjustable headpiece is
generally more practical, as inserts can easily be lost before they are
needed.
Be sure to look for a model with as many ventilation holes as you can
find. More holes mean a cooler helmet. A heavy, hot helmet is more
likely to be discarded as soon as your child is out of sight.
Whenever possible allow your child to choose the color and design
elements on a new helmet. She is much more likely to wear her helmet if
she likes the way it looks, and if it meets whatever the latest design
rage might be. As long as the helmet meets CPSC standards, the color
doesn't matter.
How to Fit a Bicycle Helmet > > > |
