Photo By Keith Hayes | The bicycle helmet for children aged one to five years old offers more protection to...... read more read more
“If you don’t wear a helmet while riding a bicycle, you’re risking your life.”
That is the best advice Michael Reyes can give to anyone who rides a bike on or off of Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif.
The MCLBB physical security specialist, in recognition of May as National Bike Month, explains why it is so important to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.
“Each year, nationwide bicycle-related deaths number about 900, and hospital emergency rooms treat more than 500,000 people for bicycle-related injuries,” Reyes said. “More children, ages 5 to 14, go to hospital emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries than for any other sport. Many of these injuries involve the head.”
“Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., safety orders require everyone, active duty and civilian alike, to wear an (American National Standards Institute) approved bicycle helmet when riding aboard base,” said Dave Romero, safety specialist, base safety office.
“You're breaking the law if you don't wear an approved bicycle helmet while riding a bike on any Department of Defense installation worldwide,” Reyes added.
There is no nationwide law requiring bicycle helmets, so that leaves the decision up to local governments.
“Right now 20 states, the District of Columbia and more than 125 localities have bicycle helmet laws,” Reyes said. “Only 17 states have no state or local helmet laws at all.”
As important as it is to wear a helmet, it is just as important to make sure you have the right fit.
“You have to have a helmet specifically designed for bike riders,” Reyes said, “not hockey, skiing, football, or some other sport.”
The helmet has to have a certification label issued by some safety organization such as Snell Memorial Foundation, American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM), ANSI, or the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
“Avoid helmets with extremely pointed shapes, inadequate or excessive vents, dark colors, thin straps, and complicated adjustments,” Reyes said.
When you place your helmet on your head, it should sit low; the brim should be about the width of two fingers above the eyebrows.
There are special bike helmets for children ages one to five. “The helmet must cover more of their heads, giving them more protection,” Reyes said.
Helmet Sizes
To find an approximate helmet size, measure around the head, just above the eyebrows. Use this chart (recommended by most manufacturers) to help you decide what size to buy:
Head Circumference Helmet Size Nominal
20 1/2 inches 6 1/2 Toddler
20 3/4 inches 6 5/8 Small
21 1/4 inches 6 3/4 Medium
21 5/8 inches 6 7/8 Medium
22 inches 7 Medium
22 3/8 inches 7 1/8 Medium
22 3/4 inches 7 1/4 Large
Make adjustments by removing extra foam from the inside of the helmet if the helmet is too small or adding extra foam supplied by the manufacturer if the helmet is too big.
“Otherwise you’re going to have to buy another helmet if those adjustments don’t work,” Reyes said.
Do not expose your helmet to excessive heat, such as the trunk of a car in the summer, or use any glue or paint on the outside not approved by the manufacturer because that could damage the shell and weaken the helmet.
“It’s always best to replace your helmet after a crash,” Reyes urged. “Even if you can’t see any damage on the outside, there might be cracks or damage on the inside.”
| Date Taken: | 05.10.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.14.2018 12:01 |
| Story ID: | 276926 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 44 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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