As the weather improves and spring days become longer, many families will start to pull out their bicycles from their garages. However, when you pull the bikes out, it is important that you remember to always wear a bike helmet.
A bike helmet can save your life and is just as important as wearing a seatbelt. The effects of even a minor traumatic brain injury can be debilitating and last for years.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 62% of bicyclists who died in 2022 did not wear helmets. Since 1975, the number of bicyclists over age 20 who have died has increased nearly fivefold. The increasing number of deaths and the fact that most bicyclists who die experience a head injury underscores the importance of wearing a helmet.
Reasons to Wear a Bike Helmet
- A bike helmet protects your head, face and brain from trauma by allowing the helmet to absorb the force of a fall or crash. The IIHS reports that the likelihood of a head injury can be reduced by 50% by wearing a bike helmet.
- A bike helmet improves your ability to see. A helmet visor can shade your face from the sun and prevent rain or snow from getting in your eyes.
- A bike helmet improves your visibility. A brightly colored helmet or a helmet with reflective strips can make you more visible to drivers.
- Wearing a bike helmet sets a good example for others. In 21 states and Washington, D.C., youth riders are required by law to wear helmets, according to the IIHS.
- It protects your legal rights. Insurance companies will often claim in court that a bicyclist not wearing a helmet was negligent, making that bicyclist more likely to have to pay medical bills and damages.
It is important to make sure that a bike helmet fits right. Key factors include:
- Size: Use a measuring tape to measure your head. Start in the middle of the head and make sure it is snug all the way around.
- Adjusting the ring or fit pads: According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, some helmets use side pads and others use a fitting ring. Pads should touch your head evenly on all sides without being so tight your helmet is uncomfortable. The skin around your eyebrows needs to move slightly with the helmet, indicating the pads are positioned well. A fitting ring usually needs to be tight for the helmet to fit right.
- Position: Place the helmet on your head and make sure the front is just above your eyebrows. If you wear glasses, the front of the helmet should rest just above your frames.
- Side straps: Adjust the straps so that they form a “Y” shape that meets just under your ears. Shake your head back and forth when you think the straps are tight enough. If the helmet can move more than an inch, your straps need to be adjusted further.
- Chin strap: Buckle the chin strap and tighten the strap so you feel the helmet pull down slightly when you open your mouth. The chin strap should be snug but not too tight.
The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute emphasizes that you should be able to forget you are wearing your bike helmet. Your helmet needs to feel natural, just like wearing a well-fitting pair of shoes or wearing your seat belt. If your helmet does not feel right, you can adjust the fitting ring, fit pads and straps or try wearing a different helmet.
Bike Safety Tips
- Dress appropriately – always wear a properly fitting bike helmet and clothing that increases your visibility.
- Check your bike – make sure your bike is safe to ride. This guide from USA Cycling lists things to check before you ride.
- Know the rules – follow the same traffic laws as cars and other vehicles.
UofL Health is Here for You
If you or a loved one has experienced a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, let UofL Physicians – Neurosurgery, part of UofL Health – Brain & Spine Institute, be your partners in care. Our neurosurgeons are fellowship-trained in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. We specialize in minimally invasive surgery, which means smaller incisions, less pain and shorter recovery time to get you back on track. Same-day and same-week appointments are available for urgent and emergent neurosurgical needs. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 502-588-2160.
