Make Sure the Helmet Fits
Bike accidents are the second leading cause of serious injury in school-age children. Each year, an average of two bicyclists are killed in the Seattle area, and more than 200 are severely injured.
Head injury is the leading cause of bicycle-related death and disability. Bicycle helmets can reduce these risks by 85%. Wearing a helmet is required by law in Seattle, Tacoma, Bremerton and many other Washington cities. However, many kids either don’t have a helmet or won’t wear one. We want to change that!
Through the Kohl's Helmet Safety Program and Seattle Children's, we hold free monthly helmet fittings and giveaways for kids throughout Washington. Check out when and where we will be in 2013 and come visit us to get your child properly fit with a new helmet.
Quick-Fit Check
A helmet won't protect your head if it doesn't fit right. Learn how to properly fit bike helmets for your family. Here is an easy, three-point check to test for proper helmet fit (PDF) (Spanish).
Eyes
Helmet sits level on your child's head and rests low on the forehead, one to two finger widths above the eye brows. Your child should be able to see the very edge of their helmet by looking up with their eyes only, while keeping their head still. A helmet pushed up too high will not protect the face of head well in a fall or crash.
Ears
The straps are even and form a "Y" under each earlobe. The straps are snug against the head.
Mouth
The buckled chin strap in loose enough so that your child can breathe. There should be enough room so that you can insert a finger between the buckle and chin, but it should be tight enough that if your child opens their mouth, you can feel the helmet pull down on top.
Check the fit
With one hand, gently lift the front of the helmet up and back. The helmet should not move up and back to reveal the forehead. If it does, tighten the strap in the front of the ear. Now lift the back of the helmet up and forward from the back. Can you move the helmet more than an inch? If so, tighten the back strap. If you can move the helmet from side to side, add thicker pads at the side.
How-to choose a helmet
- Choose a helmet that meets safety standards. Look for a CPSC (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) or Snell sticker inside the helmet.
- Helmet costs vary. Expensive helmets are not always better. Choose a helmet that your child likes and will wear. Let your child help choose a helmet that fits well and looks good.
- Check used or hand-me-down helmets with care, and never wear a helmet that is cracked, broken or has been in a crash. Used helmets may have cracks you cannot see. Older helmets may not meet current safety standards.
Safety Tips
- Teach your child to take their helmet off before playing at the playground or climbing on equipment or trees. The straps can get caught on poles or branches and prevent your child from breathing.
- Leave hair loose or tie it back at the base of the neck.
- Bike helmets can be worn with inline roller skates or scooters. For skateboarding or snowboarding, you will need another type of helmet.
- If your child skateboards or does aggressive, trick or extreme biking or skating, look for a true multi-impact helmet that has a sticker insides saying it meets ASTM F1492.
- Helmets are good for only one crash or five years. Replace the helmet after a crash or five years.
Free and Low-Cost Helmet Resources
See when and where the Kohl's Helmet Safety Program at Seattle Children's is holding free monthly helmet fittings and giveaways.
See a list of low-cost helmet resources in King County (PDF) from Public Health – Seattle and King County.