Don't Think Your Kid Needs A Bike Helmet?

Every year, more than 500,000 Americans experience bicycle-related traumas, and over 300,000 of those victims are children. These injuries are worse than just falling off a bike and getting scratched up—they involve serious enough traumas for patients to be admitted to the hospital. More than 700 people in the US die as a result of their injuries.

Last year alone, the trauma team at Advocate Lutheran General treated 28 severe traumas as a result of bicycle accidents, with a third of patients being between the ages of five and 19. Three patients died, and only six of the 28 were wearing helmets at the time of their accidents. All of the children between 10 and 19 were not wearing helmets.

For those of us who see first-hand what happens to victims of severe bike accidents, it is obvious why helmets are so important. They protect the head during a fall or collision by acting as a shock absorber and making the impact less severe. Without a helmet, the brain can slam into the inside of the skull, causing bruising, stretching, tearing or bleeding of the brain. If you look at the numbers, helmets reduce the number of severe head injuries by 80%.

Choosing the right helmet depends upon the activity. Bicycle helmets are only for use on bikes, where multi-sport helmets can be used for bikes, roller blades, in-line skates and skate boards. A completely different helmet is necessary for riding motorized scooters and motorcycles. All helmets should comply with federal safety standards to meet US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards.

It is also important to make sure the helmet fits properly. A recent survey of approximately 9000 kids showed that only 46% of them wear helmets and one-third of them weren’t wearing them correctly.

A properly fitted helmet should be comfortable, but snug. Make sure it is level on the head and not tilted too far back or forward on the forehead. The chin strap should be loose enough to allow one or two fingers between it and the skin, yet tight enough to prevent movement when the head is turned side to side or back and forth.

Keep in mind that helmets have a limited lifespan and should be replaced every few years, especially if your child has outgrown it or the helmet is showing signs of damage. Don’t leave helmets in a hot car. The heat can deform the shell and make it ineffective. And remember the saying “one crash and it’s trash”—once a helmet has been in an accident, it is no longer effective in preventing serious injury a second time.

At Lutheran General Hospital, we work with an organization called Safe Kids to sell toddler, youth and adult bicycle and multi-sport helmets for only $10. Visit the Trauma Service Office Monday through Friday from 8:30am – 4:00pm to purchase a helmet or have an existing helmet evaluated for correct fit.  We also partner with the Children’s Resource Center to catch kids at their doctor appointments and make sure they have helmets. Parents can walk into the Children’s Resource Center on Wednesdays between 10:00am – 3:30pm or call for an appointment to buy and/or be fitted for a helmet.

Once you have the right helmets, make sure to have the kids wear them. That practice starts with you. The most important action you can take this season to help your children develop the habit of wearing a helmet is to wear one yourself!

Kathy Tanouye, RN BSN TNS, is with EMS/Trauma Services at

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