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Studies show that wearing a bike helmet can decrease the risk of a head injury by 85% and brain injury by 88%. The first step is to buy a good helmet. Although secondhand helmets may work just as well, a new helmet is less likely to be cracked or weakened from use. Then, make sure it fits! Adjust the side straps first, then the chinstrap until the buckle fits neatly against the bottom of the chin. The helmet should fit snugly against the top of the head, and secure against the bottom of the chin without any excess strap.
Click here to download a poster from the Minnesota Department of Health on how to properly fit a helmet.
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- Wear a bicycle or motorcycle helmet on every ride. Check to see
if your helmet
should have a safety certification (CPSC) .
- Ride so drivers and cyclists can see you.
- Look both ways for oncoming vehicles before turning or crossing a street.
Go only when it is clear.
- Watch out for potholes, cracks, rocks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad
tracks
or anything that could make you lose control of your bike.
- Make sure that your bike fits your height, weight and age.
- Inflate tires properly.
- Check brakes before riding.
- Bikers should ride behind one another and with the flow of traffic.
For more information on Hennepin County Medical Center's Trauma Prevention program,
contact Julie Philbrook at (612) 873-8500, or julie.philbrook@hcmed.org
See what Hennepin County Medical Center is doing to help prevent falls in older adults!
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