Use Your Head

Nowadays, it’s a no-brainer that wearing a helmet can keep you safe when biking or playing sports. Most of the impact energy from a fall or collision is absorbed by the helmet, rather than your head and brain. But picking the right one isn’t quite so easy. There are a lot of things to keep in mind to make sure your helmet will protect you.

Different sports require different helmets. The two most common types of helmets are single-impact and multi-impact. Bike helmets are considered single-impact because they’re designed to protect you from a hard blow such as a fall off a bicycle. Helmets for most other sports, like hockey, are considered multi-impact because they’re designed to withstand repeated blows.

Use these tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to help you find the right helmet:

* Always try on a helmet before buying it to ensure that it will fit properly. If you’re buying a helmet for your children, take them with you so that they can try the helmets on.
* A helmet should fit snugly; it should not slide around on your head, or be so tight that it pinches or gives you a headache. The helmet fits it if sits level on your head, not tilted back or forward over your eyes. Once secured, you should not be able to move the helmet around on your head.
* No matter what type of helmet you buy, always check the safety sticker on the inside to make sure it is approved by the CPSC.
* Replace your helmet every three to five years, after a crash, or if you notice any cracks or chips.

Before you hop on your bike or step into the rink, use your head and put on your helmet. Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of a serious head injury and even save your life.

You can find further guidelines on choosing the right helmet for a specific activity in the CPSC’s PDF guide “Which Helmet for Which Activity” at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/349.pdf.