Bike Helmet Safety

As the weather gets nicer, you see more and more kids out on their bikes!  It is extrememly important that they wear their helmet even when just out riding around the neighborhood.  Not only should they have their helmet on, but it needs to be put on correctly.  There have been accidents in other parts of the state that have left children paralyzed from the neck down due to improperly fitting helmets.  A bike helmet must sit on the TOP of the head not slanted back and the straps should be tight.  If the straps are not tight and/or if the helmet is not on the proper place on the head, extreme injuries can result.  If you are not wearing a helmet and you fly over the handle bars, you are risking severe damage to the frontal lobe of your brain - decision making happens here.  If you fly over your handle bars with an ill fitting helmet, you are now facing possible injury to the brain stem - arm and leg movement, breathing etc.  When a helmet is loose and you fly forward, the impact can push the helment further back causing injury to the brain stem.  Please make sure that your child is wearing a helmet and that it is fitting properly!