New Helmet Law January 1, 2003

As of January 1st, 2003 those under the age of 18 are now required by law to wear a federally approved "all purpose" safety helmet when riding a scooter, skateboard and in-line/roller skates. It's a well known FACT that Safety helmets reduce the devastating trauma of brain injury by 85%, and yes - brain injuries can be FATAL! Protect your brain - everyone should be wearing a safety helmet when riding a bike, scooter, skateboard or inline/roller skates...this includes the tennis shoes with built in rollers, also known as "Heelies or Wheelies".

Be a good safety role model for your children - wear a helmet, wear your seat belts - and your child will follow your example.

Make sure the helmet has an approval sticker from the CPSC-Consumer Product Safety Commission and/or ASTM-American Standard for Testing Materials.

Attention educators - there are two "excellent programs" available to speak to your school or group are:

Think First-Sharp On Survival at - 619- 644-4661 and EPIC Medics, check EPIC's web site at www.epicmedics.org. EPIC Medics are available for safety fairs and bike rodeos. This organization offers paramedics and EMT's who see brain injuries first hand when responding to incidents. Think First/Sharp On Survival also have powerful speakers available for your group with emphasis on brain and spinal cord injury.

Brain trauma is seen #1 in car collisions followed by falls from bikes, scooters etc. Quite often brain trauma can be fatal or disabling, such as loss of sight, taste and/or possibly paralyzed.

The Safe Kid's Coalition of Children's Hospital will be posting small signs in department stores informing consumers of the new helmet law requirements.

The Two Minute Summary on the Importance of Safety Helmets from BHSI-Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute:

You always need a helmet wherever you ride. You can expect to crash in your next 4,500 miles of riding, or maybe much sooner than that!

Even a low-speed fall on a bicycle path can scramble your brains.

Laws in 20 states and over 84 localities require helmets.

Make sure your helmet fits to get all the protection you are paying for. A good fit means level on your head, touching all around, comfortably snug but not tight. The helmet should not move more than about an inch in any direction, and must not pull off no matter how hard you try.

Standards are no longer a big issue in the US market, but check inside for a CPSC sticker.

Pick white or a bright color for visibility to be sure that motorists and other cyclists can see you.

Common sense tells you to avoid a helmet with snag points sticking out, a squared-off shell, inadequate vents, excessive vents, an extreme "aero" shape, dark colors, thin straps, complicated adjustments or a rigid visor that could snag in a fall.

If you have six minutes, please read on!

Six Minutes More
Your brain is probably worth reading this!

Need One? Yes!!
Experienced, careful bike riders crash every 4,500 miles on the average. Head injury causes 75% of our 800+ annual deaths from bicycle crashes. Medical research shows that a bicycle helmet can prevent 85% of cyclists' head injuries. And helmets may be required by law in your area.

How Does a Helmet Work?
A helmet reduces the peak energy of a sharp impact. This requires a layer of stiff foam to cushion the blow by crushing. Most bicycle helmets do this with expanded polystyrene (EPS), the white picnic cooler foam. Once crushed, EPS does not recover. Another foam, expanded polypropylene (EPP), does recover, but is much less common. A stronger EPS called GECET appeared in 1992 and is widely used now. Another foam called EPU (ex-panded polyurethane) is used in Taiwan. It has a uniform cell structure and crushes without rebound, but is heavier and requires a manufacturing process that is not environmentally friendly. The spongy foam inside a helmet is for comfort and fit, not for impact.
The helmet must stay on your head even when you hit more than once--usually a car first, and then the road. So it needs a strong strap and an equally strong fastener. The helmet should sit level on your head and cover as much as possible. Above all, with the strap fastened you should not be able to get the helmet off your head by any combination of pulling or twisting. If it comes off or slips enough to leave large areas of your head unprotected, adjust the straps again or try another helmet. Keep the strap comfortably snug when riding.

What Type do I Need?
Most helmets are made of EPS foam with a thin plastic outer shell. The shell helps the helmet skid easily on rough pavement to avoid jerking your neck. The shell also holds the EPS together after the first impact. Some ex-cellent helmets are made by molding EPS in the shell rather than adding the shell later.
Beware of gimmicks. You want a smoothly rounded outer shell, with no sharp ribs or snag points. Excessive vents mean less area contacting your head, which could concentrate force on one point. "Aero" helmets are not noticeably faster, and in a crash the "tail" could snag or knock the helmet aside. Skinny straps are less comfortable. Dark helmets are hard for motorists to see. Rigid visors can snag or shatter in a fall. Helmet standards do not address these problems--it's up to you!

Standards
A sticker inside the helmet tells what standard it meets. Helmets made for U.S. sale after 1999 must meet the US Consumer Product Safety Commission standard, so look for a CPSC sticker. ASTM's standard is comparable. Snell's B-95 and N-94 standards are tougher but seldom used. The weak ANSI Z90.4 standard is dead.

Fit is not certified by any standard, so test that on your own head. Visors are not tested for shattering or snagging in a fall, so you are on your own there.

Comfort Requirements
Coolness, ventilation, fit and sweat control are the most critical comfort needs. Air flow over the head determines coolness, and larger front vents provide better air flow. Most current helmets have adequate cooling for most riders. Sweat control can require a brow pad or separate sweatband. A snug fit with no pressure points ensures comfort and correct position on the head when you crash. Weight is not an issue with today's helmets.

Special Problems
Ponytail ports can improve fit for those with long hair. Bald riders avoid helmets with big top vents to prevent funny tan lines. Some head shapes require more fiddling with fitting pads and straps. Extra small heads may need thick fitting pads. Extra large heads up to 8 1/4, may require the huge Bell Kinghead. For a softer landing, seniors should pick a thicker, less dense model without huge vents.