Summer Safety Begins With a Helmet

JUNE 2010 :: Be Well For Life

Summer Safety Begins With a Helmet

Published Thursday Jun 3, 2010

As you break out the sports equipment and start enjoying the warmer weather, the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA) urges you to dust off the helmet as well. If you engage in an activity where there’s a risk of head injury, wearing a helmet is always a good idea.

“Bike-related crashes injure more than 500,000 people every year, and head injuries account for 63 percent of all fatalities,” said Emily Ring, Manager of Prevention Programs for the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts. “Helmets can prevent many head injuries associated with biking as well as baseball, skateboarding, and rollerblading,” she said. According to the Centers for Disease Control, use of helmets reduces the risk of bike-related head injury by as much as 84 percent. Sadly, youngsters under 15 account for about half of bike injuries. “When wearing a helmet, make sure it is worn correctly – down in front,” advises Ring. “Prevention begins with parents, who serve as role models for their children by wearing a helmet themselves.”

The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA) is a private, non-profit organization that provides support to brain injury survivors and their families, offers programs to prevent brain injuries, and educates the public on the risks and impact of brain injury. The association advocates for legislation to prevent brain injuries, including seat belt and helmet laws.

BIA-MA offers a series of prevention fact cards on such topics as helmet safety, sports concussion, pedestrian safety and teen driving. For more information, call 800-242-0030 or visit www.biama.org.

Fact Sheet on Helmet Safety

Half of all bicycle deaths are children under 15 years old. (Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, 2006) Use of bicycle helmets reduces the risk for bicycle-related head injury by 74%-85%. (Centers for Disease Control, 2006)

1 in 8 of the cyclists with reported injuries has a brain injury. (Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, 2006) Direct costs of cyclists’ injuries due to not using helmets are estimated at $81 million each year. (Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, 2006)

Powered vehicles (ATVs, go-carts, dirt bikes) are the second most common cause of head injuries during the spring and summer months. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)

A properly fitted helmet

Helmet straps should meet in a “V” under each ear.

Chin strap should be snug under chin.

Helmet should be worn low on forehead.

Helmet should not move side to side or back and forth.

Summer Safety Begins With a Helmet  As you break out the sports equipment and start enjoying the warmer weather, the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA) urges you to dust off the helmet as well. If you engage in an activity where there’s a risk of head injury, wearing a helmet is always a good idea.
“Bike-related crashes injure more than 500,000 people every year, and head injuries account for 63 percent of all fatalities,” said Emily Ring, Manager of Prevention Programs for the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts. “Helmets can prevent many head injuries associated with biking as well as baseball, skateboarding, and rollerblading,” she said. According to the Centers for Disease Control, use of helmets reduces the risk of bike-related head injury by as much as 84 percent. Sadly, youngsters under 15 account for about half of bike injuries. “When wearing a helmet, make sure it is worn correctly – down in front,” advises Ring. “Prevention begins with parents, who serve as role models for their children by wearing a helmet themselves.”
The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA) is a private, non-profit organization that provides support to brain injury survivors and their families, offers programs to prevent brain injuries, and educates the public on the risks and impact of brain injury. The association advocates for legislation to prevent brain injuries, including seat belt and helmet laws. BIA-MA offers a series of prevention fact cards on such topics as helmet safety, sports concussion, pedestrian safety and teen driving. For more information, call 800-242-0030 or visit www.biama.org.  Fact Sheet on Helmet Safety Half of all bicycle deaths are children under 15 years old. (Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, 2006)
Use of bicycle helmets reduces the risk for bicycle-related head injury by74%-85%. (Centers for Disease Control, 2006) 1 in 8 of the cyclists with reported injuries has a brain injury. (Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, 2006)
Direct costs of cyclists’ injuries due to not using helmets are estimated at $81 million each year. (Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, 2006)

Powered vehicles (ATVs, go-carts, dirt bikes) are the second most common cause of head injuries during the spring and summer months. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)   A properly fitted helmet Helmet straps should meet in a “V” under each ear.Chin strap should be snug under chin.Helmet should be worn low on forehead.Helmet should not move side to side or back and forth.