I had a bit of excitement yesterday that involved 2-1/2 hours in the emergency room (always fun on a Sunday evening). You see, I have
Apparently, Cam has been putting his helmet on to ride out of the driveway, then hangs it on the handlebars of his bike once he's out of sight. Yesterday, it caught up with him.
He was riding his bike with a buddy - racing and doing a few BMX tricks - and lost control of the bike at a fairly high rate of speed. He landed on his left shoulder, with his head and elbow following on the pavement. He called me on his cell phone and told me he had crashed, but he sounded OK, so I had him ride home.
He walked in the door and I could SEE an obvious and large goose egg (about 5" in diameter) on the left side of his head. His elbow was bloody and swollen and he had a nice dose of road rash on his shoulder. I was extremely concerned about the head injury, so off to the ER we went.
2-1/2 hours, several x-rays of his head and elbow later, I found out that he had gotten lucky - REALLY lucky - and managed only a mild concussion and various cuts and abrasions - nothing requiring stitches or a hospital stay. He'll be sore for quite a few days, and has lost his bike for the month of July, but other than that he is none the worse for wear.
On that note, a little Public Safety Announcement from the folks at the Mayo Clinic.
Selecting a bicycle helmet
Bicycle helmets are cooler, more comfortable and easier to adjust than ever before. There are plenty of inexpensive choices for kids and adults alike. Just remember the ground rules:
- Make sure the helmet is safe. Look for a seal of approval from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or Snell Memorial Foundation.
- Make sure it fits snugly. You shouldn't be able to move the bicycle helmet more than one inch in any direction, front to back or side to side. The sizing pads included with every bicycle helmet can help make the fit more secure. If you have long hair, consider a helmet with a ponytail port.
- Think about visibility. If the bicycle helmet straps block your vision — even a little bit — choose another helmet. Likewise, make sure motorists and other cyclists can see you. Choose a white or brightly colored helmet.
Wearing a bicycle helmet
Bike helmet worn correctly
The rules for wearing a bicycle helmet are the same for kids and adults, too. Wear the helmet flat on the top of your head. The helmet should cover the top of your forehead without tilting forward or backward.
Fasten the chin strap just below your chin. If the bicycle helmet doesn't feel snug, use the foam sizing pads that came with the helmet to get a better fit. The helmet shouldn't rock from front to back or side to side.
Avoid common bicycle helmet mistakes
Bike helmets tilted forward and backward
If the bicycle helmet is tilted forward, the back of your head is more vulnerable to the force of a crash. To keep the helmet flat on your head, tighten the chin strap. If the helmet still tips forward, you may need a smaller helmet.
A bicycle helmet that tips backward is just as problematic. When this happens, the front and side of your head are vulnerable to the force of a crash. Again, tighten the chin strap. If the helmet still tips backward, you may need a smaller helmet.
And of course, always wear a helmet each and every time you ride - ON YOUR HEAD!
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