How to find the right bike helmet fit

On Wednesday, Campbell County Health Emergency Medical Services crew gave away some free bicycle helmets to children in Gillette, Wyoming who needed them. It’s very important that everyone (not just kids, parents), wear a properly fitted helmet when riding a bike, scooter, and skateboard, among others.

Why, you may ask? It’s the best way for you to prevent head injuries—in fact, helmets can reduce the risk of severe brain injuries by 88 percent. According to Safe Kids Campbell County, more children between the ages of 5 to 14 years old are seen in emergency departments for injuries related to biking than any other sport.

“Wearing a helmet makes our job easier. It keeps your head safe, and it keeps your brain safe,” says Colleen Long, Paramedic. “We can fix broken arms and legs, but we can’t fix a broken brain.”

While wearing a helmet is important, it’s equally important for it to fit properly. A helmet should sit on top of the head in a level position, and should not rock forward, backward or side to side. The helmet straps must always be buckled, but not too tightly. Check out these tips from Safe Kids Worldwide to make sure your child’s helmet (and yours) is the right fit:

• EYES check: Position the helmet on your head. Look up and you should see the bottom rim of the helmet. The rim should be one to two finger-widths above the eyebrows.
• EARS check: Make sure the straps of the helmet form a “V” under your ears when buckled. The strap should be snug but comfortable.
• MOUTH check: Open your mouth as wide as you can. Do you feel the helmet hug your head? If not, tighten those straps and make sure the buckle is flat against your skin.

Check out this video to guide you through those steps:

And, consider downloading these Bike Safety Tips for more information to keep you biking safe.

Safe Kids Campbell County provides our community with free car seat checks by appointment, safety seat events, bike rodeos and much more to help educate our children. Learn more at www.cchwyo.org/safekids.

Check out more photos from this event on our Facebook page.