Bike Helmet Facts

What About Your Bike Helmet?

I can remember falling off of my bike when I was a child, smashing my head into the curb and getting more scrapes and bruises than I could count. My mother rushed me to the emergency room where they cleaned me up and determined that I had a concussion. I had to get six stitches in my head as well. That was many, many years ago before bike helmets were created and so well known. I still have a tiny scar on my head to remind me of how hard I hit the curb that day. Though I never even thought about it then, I suppose that I am lucky to have not been seriously injured or killed. After all, I ended up rolling into the street after hitting the curb.

Now, my seven-year old son wears a bike helmet whenever he rides his bike anywhere. He used to fuss about it and throw a fit when I made him wear it, but now it is just part of his routine when he's getting ready to ride his bike. Children aren't always fans of wearing bikehelmet but if they grow up knowing that it is just a part of life and something that has to be done, it won't be so bothersome. In fact, my son knows that he is not even allowed to leave the house with his bike unless his helmet is securely fastened to his head.

Without Wearing Bike Helmets...

Each and every year, bike accidents occur. While the majority of them end up resulting in minor injuries or just bruises, some of them result in death. Without wearing a bikehelmet, the risk of a head injury skyrockets. All you have to do is glance around you while driving and notice how many drivers are preoccupied. Perhaps they are talking on a cell phone or trying to read directions. Or, maybe they are changing radio stations while trying to stay in their lane. Those distracted drivers may not always notice bike riders around them and something horrible may occur. I personally have almost hit bike riders who think that stop signs and lights do not apply to them. Logically, wearing bike helmets could help to prevent any head injuries from occurring should an accident happen. Of course, crashing your bike or injuring yourself while riding doesn't just involve vehicles. You could simply fall off of a curb, as I did. You could hit some loose gravel and end up losing control. There are many different ways to fall off of your bike or injure yourself.

So safety first. By wearing a bike helmet, you may be able to avoid an unpleasant trip to the emergency room.