Protect
Yourself... Wear a Helmet!
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What do bicycling, horseback riding, baseball and in-line skating
all have in common? Helmets! The trick is that different sports
require a different type of helmet to help protect participants
from the different types of head injuries common to that particular
sport.
All helmets are not created equal; beyond picking the right helmet
for the sport, buyers should look inside the helmet for information
on standards the helmet complies with. Bike helmets for example
should carry a CPSC, Snell, ASTM, or ANSI sticker or label.
Fit is key
A loose helmet cannot protect the head as well as one that is
properly fit. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute suggests buying
a brand and size that fits well prior to adjustments, and then
using the adjustable straps and/or sizing pads to ensure a snug
fit. Select a helmet that fits you or your child now, not a helmet
to "grow into."
Helmets save lives
According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, a bicycle helmet
reduces the risk of serious head and brain injury by 85%.
More than 70,000 persons need hospital emergency room treatment
each year for injuries related to skateboarding according to the
CPSC.
Head injuries cause three-quarters of about 900 bicycle deaths
each year, according to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, a
helmet advocacy program of the Washington, D.C.-area Bicyclist
Association.
Another 82,000 people suffer brain injuries each year while playing
sports such as baseball and football, etc., according to the Brain
Injury Association in Alexandria, Va.
Brain surgeons and doctors across the U.S. agree that wearing
helmets can save lives.
Both children and adults should wear the appropriate helmet when
participating in the following sports, or any recreational activity
where head injuries are a risk:
-ATV riding
-Baseball
-Bicycling
-Football
-Horse-back riding
-In-line skating
-Rock climbing
-Skateboarding
-Softball
For handling sports-related injuries and other emergencies, everyone
should be trained in first aid.
Permission to reprint granted by the
National Safety Council, a membership organization dedicated to
protecting life and promoting health.
For
more information visit www.nsc.org.
