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May Tips of the Month: Getting Ready to
RideA good fit
is vital for a helmet to offer the best protection. Avoid buying
an oversized helmet for your child to grow into. When selecting
a helmet, have your child try on the size you think will fit and
one size smaller. Select the smallest size that fits
comfortably. Adjust your child's helmet so it fits snugly and
correctly.
The straps should be tight
when the chinstrap is buckled. When correctly fitted, the helmet
should be level on the head, with the front edge no more than
one inch above the eyebrows. Have your child push up firmly on
the front edge of the helmet with the heel of the hand.
If the helmet moves
backwards, you need to shorten the front straps. Have your child
grab the helmet by the rear edge and try to peel it off to the
front. It it moves forward enough to cover your child's eyes,
shorten the back straps without changing the length of the front
straps.
The chinstrap should be
tight enough that when opening the mouth widely, your child can
feel the helmet push down against the top of the head. Leaving a
helmet in the car trunk on a hot day may cause the shell to
shrivel or crack and the liner to come loose.
Use only soap and water to
clean the helmet. When purchasing a helmet look for one or more
of the following safety standards compliance labels indicating
the helmet meets minimum requirements for impact absorption,
strap integrity and resistance to rolling off:
Snell Memorial Foundation:
www.smf.org.
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