Importance of Bicycle Helmets for Kids
Our kids are the most precious assets of our lives so we should protect them as much as we can. Mostly kids like bicycling and it’s a fact that they look awesome when they enjoy their bikes. When our kids get familiar with bicycling they insist to riding on the road, sidewalk or other hard surface. Before allowing them to do this you must take all the precautionary measures that are necessary to safeguard them while riding their bikes. It includes knee pads, adequate footwear, gloves, choice of clothes etc.Bicycle helmets for kids are one of the most important safety measure while riding on bikes.
Need for Bicycle Helmets for Kids
Statistics show that bicycling accidents are common in kids. You can’t simply rule out the occurrence of accidents no matter how careful you are. So a better strategy would be to train our children to take the utmost care while riding on a bicycle. Bicycle helmets for kids are the most important piece of safety equipment for protecting our children in case of accident. An ideal helmet will protect our children not only at the time of accident but also from undue suffering of the after effects of the accidents.
An accident that can cause serious injury to a child on a bicycle need not involve another vehicle, speed or even a stationary item. A child turning too quickly can topple a bike and cause an accident. A pants leg caught in a chain can cause a child to hit the pavement hard. A sudden, unexpected spill can cause a child to extend their arms and injure hands, wrists and arms. The probability of a child striking their head in a fall from a bicycle is high. The point is even a minor incident can cause severe injuries to young bodies.
Just to remind you that avoiding helmet while riding cannot only cause brain injury but also death!
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries are very common in children due to bicycling accidents and the simple reason is “Not Wearing A Helmet”. Facts prove that if a cyclist meets an accident then there are chances of:
- Immediate death
- Head and brain injury
- Broken bones
- Etc.
Whereas the after effects of the traumatic brain injury include:
- Permanent personality changes
- Learning disabilities
- Concentration difficulties
- Aggressiveness
- Headaches
- Balance problems
- Etc.
Just think how simple it is to rule out 90% chances of all these disabilities if your child would be using a helmet.
Features of Good Bicycle Helmets for Kids
Wearing helmet doesn’t mean that each and every helmet ensures the safeguard of your child. Only a good helmet can serve the purpose. The features of a good helmet can be:
- A good helmet must be well fitted to the head of your child. It should be leveled at the head not tilted at an angle forward or backward
- Its straps should be wide with good buckles
- It should be ventilated properly
- Bright colored helmet is more recommended for children
A good helmet can serve the purpose only if it is fastened well. Helmet should be two inches above the eyebrows to make the vision clear. Straps should be behind the ears and fastened tightly under chin so that in case of accident it should be in its place to safeguard the child.
Seals of Approval
Before purchasing a helmet for your kids do assure that it bears an authentic seal of Snell Foundation or the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
This ensures that the helmet you are buying meets standards set by the relative authorities. These authorities give authentication for the material and usage of the product. But it is the duty of the parents to ensure that the helmet is well fitted to their child’s head. Moreover in case the helmet hits hard once then replace it immediately.