As a kid, chances are you went for bike rides without wearing a helmet. Most parents today grew up speeding around the neighborhood, helmet-free, and roaming with little supervision until the streetlights came on. They turned out just fine, so why the big fuss over bicycle helmets now? And do bicyclists even have to wear helmets?

This is a common argument, and one that is often repeated as new or improved safety technology enters the marketplace. If you were born in the early 1980s or earlier, you probably didn’t sit in a car seat as an infant, either, but few people today would dream of driving without their child fastened in a child car seat.

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Bicycle helmets are more than just a gimmick for helicopter parents; they have been proven to save lives and reduce injuries.

As a personal injury lawyer in Boca Raton, we know how important it is to buckle up behind the wheel or the handlebars, whether you’re fastening a seat belt or strapping on a bike helmet.

FACTS AND STATS ABOUT BIKE HELMETS

The head and brain are vulnerable parts of the body, especially in children. Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in kids, so it’s important for parents, grandparents, and caregivers to do everything they can to reduce the likelihood of an accidental injury.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that motor vehicle accidents and pedestrian accidents – including accidents involving bicycles – top the list of causes of accidental death in kids.

According to statistics compiled by the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, there are about 275,000 non-fatal bicycle accidents every year, which averages out to around 690 each day.

Just because these accidents are non-fatal, however, does not mean they don’t result in serious injuries. Experts estimate that bicycle helmets can prevent between 39,000 and 45,000 traumatic brain injuries every year, along with 18,000 to 55,000 scalp and facial injuries annually.

Tragically, some bicycle accidents are fatal, but helmets could help here, too. Experts also say bike helmets can prevent up to 75 percent of fatal head injuries in children. Helmets could have helped prevent 135 to 155 deaths.

Furthermore, helmets aren’t just for bicycles. Kids between the ages of zero and 14 who rollerblade or skateboard can also benefit from wearing a helmet. There are about 38,000 skateboarding injuries every year, but that’s a blog for another day…

FLORIDA LAW ON BICYCLE HELMETS

You know your child needs a helmet, but what does the law say about bike helmets on kids? According to Florida law, bicycle helmets are mandatory for all children under 16 years old. Furthermore, the helmet must be properly fitted and fastened securely on the child’s head with a strap.

TIPS FOR A GOOD FIT

Of course, a bicycle helmet is at its most effective when it is fitted properly. If you’re unsure about your child’s bike helmet, there are many great websites that walk you through fitting the helmet to your child’s head.

The Cleveland Clinic gives the following tips for ensuring a good fit:

• The helmet should be snug but comfortable, and the straps should form a Y shape under the bottom of each ear lobe
• The helmet should not move easily from side to side; if it does, it is probably too loose
• The helmet should sit level on your child’s head – not tilting too far forward or back; you can check this by making sure the helmet is one or two finger-widths above your child’s eyebrows
• Your child should have a full range of vision while wearing the helmet; a way to check this is to ask your child if he or she can see the top edge of the helmet when looking up (if so, it’s probably a good fit)

Learn more here about how to make sure a bike helmet is a good fit.

BIKE HELMETS ARE FOR ADULTS, TOO

Just because Florida law does not require helmets for bicyclists age 16 and up does not mean adults should go without them.

According to one doctor who is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians, wearing a bicycle helmet is the “single most important thing” a person can do to determine “whether or not you live or die from a bicycle accident”.

There are numbers to back this up. For example, in 2008, 91 percent of bicyclists killed in accidents were not wearing a helmet. Although no state in the country requires individuals over age 17 to wear a helmet while bicycling, research shows bicycle helmets are just as important for grown-ups as they are for kids.

Furthermore, wearing your helmet when you bike sets a good example for your children. By teaching them the importance of safety early on, you are ensuring they practice a lifetime of safety precautions.