Bike riding is an enjoyable activity for children year-round, but it is important to ride safely. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, children, adolescents and young adults account for 60 percent of all bicycle-related injuries seen in U.S. emergency departments.However, helmets can reduce the risk of head and brain injuries in the event of a crash.

Karen Ahmad, RN, CPST and Child Injury Prevention Specialist at Alliance Safety Council, suggests that helmets should have a snug but comfortable fit on a child’s head. Ahmad states, “Proper size matters. When you put on a helmet you should feel a little resistance as it comes down, and it shouldn’t wiggle a whole lot... They should fit snugly and be worn on the front of the head, a little bit above the eyebrows.”

When buying a helmet, the child should be present to test the fit. In order to protect on impact, the helmet needs to have a correctly adjusted, firmly buckled chin strap. Any bike helmet made in the United States has to meet Consumer Product Safety Commission standards. Helmets need to be able to withstand impact with pavement or other hard surfaces, and are tested to make sure they do so.

Helmets are necessary when bike-riding or participating in many other recreational activities. Taking the correct safety precautions can help to make sure that children have fun without serious injury.

For more information on various helmet standards and proper helmet fit, visit: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Guides/Sports-Fitness-and-Recreation/Bicycles/Which-Helmet-for-Which-Activity/