PSA- Check Yer Helmet...

[Running Mommy]

Ok, here goes my public service announcement of the week.

If you haven't checked your helmet for wear and tear in awhile, stop and do so now. Esp. if you've taken a tumble.

My friends husband has taken up mtn biking with running hubby and our shop guys. He's really more of a triathlete than anything, so he's taken quite a few tumbles the last couple of weeks.
One I hear was "spectacular"... OY- boys...

So we were at their house for dinner discussing said "spectacular" crash, and I asked him to see his helmet.
"Oh no" he says. "I didn't hit my head". so I demand "helmet. NOW". and get a "yes mom" reply.
So I set about inspecting it and sure enough, right on the front right side is a crack right through the foam.
He didn't believe it. His wife was amazed, and then we proclaimed his expensive Atmos helmet toast.
It was one of those cracks that you really had to look for. And to see it you had to give the helmet a bit of a tug and twist, but sure enough a crack going right through.
He has no idea when it happend, but the helmet is a goner.

So look at the foam carefully and if you see any suspicious lines in it, kind of give it a tug. If it's cracked you'll see it seperate.

So there ya go. My PSA of the week.

Be safe!
Denise

[KnottedYet]

It's a good one! Thank you!

[Flybye]

Yes, mom
Thanks, mom
Glad you thought to look at his.
I will remember "spectacular" the next time I crash!

[bmccasland]

RM - bought me a new one last fall , and I haven't gone splat in it, yet. Thank you for the PSA.

[roadie gal]

I think Giro and maybe some of the other companies will replace a helmet for free or cheap if you get in an accident and crack it. Bike helmets are made for one impact. If you hit your head, even if you don't crack the helmet, replace it.

[Tuckervill]

One impact, huh?

Our lbs sold a bunch of mountain bikes to several middle schools in the area. 50 or 60 bikes each. The one near me has them, and the LBS wanted to create an opportunity for the kids to have something to work for with their riding. So, they came up with a bike race, and I said I'd volunteer. The kids had a GREAT time, but there was one injury, although I don't know how serious it is, yet.

The injury was because of a helmet--or lack of one. The kids all had helmets and we required them. However, the helmets are all kept in a huge bin, like for basketballs. After a year of middle school, so many of them were toast. Lots of them didn't have buckles. I tried in vain to make sure every single kid had a helmet that buckled before their heat, but it was like herding cats to even get them to listen. (Props to mid-school teachers everywhere!)

At one point, someone even picked up MY helmet, which was near my bike, far away, and threw it into the bin. Someone had slid the buckle OFF and I found it on the ground under the bin. I think most of the buckles were missing on purpose, now. I don't think they like to wear them, so they break them or loosen them up.

This action cost the boy who got hurt. He endo'd on a turn...someone cut him off and he slammed on the brakes and went over. His helmet, which had buckles, but was loose, flew off. He hit the back of his head on the pavement and was taken off in an ambulance.

No one except me seems appalled by the condition of the helmets. I talked with the LBS guys about how best to maintain the helmets, but they didn't seem to take it seriously either. I still haven't found out how the kid is.

Karen

[teawoman]

Thanks for this! Last Sept. I took quite a fall (but not on my head) and checked then but couldn't see any cracks. I re-checked my helmet when I read this...and guess what! A coupla small cracks at the back, sorta like the back flap below the pointy vents was going to crack off. It's consistent with how I fell on my side, but I did not feel my head hit. I replaced it. Eek!