IBC public campaign advocates helmet safety

Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC)’s ‘Be Smart. Be Safe.’ campaign is urging parents to make sure their children wear an approved helmet anytime they are participating in wheeled activities such as cycling, skateboarding, in-line skating or riding a scooter.
“Every year, more than 500 Canadian children are hospitalized for head injuries from bicycle crashes,” according to a press release issued by IBC’s Atlantic Canada office. “Nearly 30 children die each year from these injuries. Bicycle injuries to children under 14 not only result in pain and suffering, but also cost Atlantic Canadians more than CD$21 million each year.”
IBC’s message goes further than advocating children’s safety. “We want parents to know that helmets are not just for kids,” IBC vice president, Atlantic region Don Forgeron says. “Some parents properly outfit their children with helmets but don’t wear one themselves.
“In addition to increasing their risk of head injuries, they’re not setting a good example.”
According to the IBC, injury prevention experts agree that wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of serious head injuries by 85%. They also caution people never to purchase a used helmet.
“If you see a used bicycle helmet in a garage sale, don’t even think about buying it: it may have been damaged,” says Jim Russell, executive director of ThinkFirst, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing brain and spinal cord injuries. “Bike helmets are designed for single impact. If you hit your helmet once, you should replace it.”
ThinkFirst and IBC offer the following tips for buying and wearing helmets:
Look for a helmet with an ASTM, SNELL or CSA sticker inside.
Don’t decorate helmets with paint or stickers.
Make sure the pads inside touch the head at the front, back, sides and top.
Never wear a hat under your helmet.
Wear your helmet the right way: make sure you can fit two fingers between the helmet and your eyebrows and one finger under the chinstrap. The side straps should form a tight V under each ear lobe.
Remove your child’s helmet before they play on playground equipment: it could get caught on the equipment and may strangle the child.