Wear a helmet. Please.

I’ve shared this before, but this image is from a WhatsApp from a nurse friend of mind about her son coming off of his scooter last May.

I had a father once tell me in my real life practice that he didn’t make his children wear helmets because he couldn’t understand the risk that something would fall on their head while cycling. He truly believed we recommended helmets like hard hats. 👷

If you, also, are wondering: why a helmet? Well, I think my friend does a good job of demonstrating it in that photo!

Need actual evidence though? Multiple Studies have found that:
1. Your child is wonderful. Let’s prevent brain injury! Helmets provideup to 88 % reduction inbrain injuries.
2. Your child is beautiful; keep them that way: A helmet provides a 65 % reduction of injuries to the upper and mid-face (the shape of the helmet helps protect road rash to face and broken face bones during a fall)

Steps for success:
1. Buy the helmet and the bicycle at the same time. First bike, first helmet. Don’t present the birthday present bike without the helmet. I noticed Santa forgot more than a few – again! – this year, despite my memo. I’m sending him a memo even earlier this year.
2. Implement a strict no helmet, no bike rule. You can do it, Mammy.
3. If there are adults cycling in your home, they should also wear a helmet. “Monkey see, monkey do.” Like all healthy habits – eating veggies, not smoking, going to the dentist – if it isn’t modelled by parents, all the talking and rule-making in the world won’t work. And it isn’t just about today, it’s about parenting our children so that all of these healthy habits are a normal that follow them into adulthood. (Also, why aren’t you wearing a helmet????)
4. New helmet needed? Engage your child in helping to pick out colour, etc. Stickers? Glitter? Highly recommended if it helps with enthusiasm. Online ordering might be necessary right now. Remember a helmet that has damage (like the one pictured!) needs to be replaced.

If you don’t know where to start, Halfords has a great website and video. Definitely buy your child’s helmet any shop or online where you can get the best deal, but this guide explains fitting quite well: https://www.halfords.ie/…/video-how-to-fit-a-cycle-helmet.h…

Helmets aren’t enough: Does your child need a refresher on bike safety? (Some of the boys in my neighbourhood definitely do!) https://www2.hse.ie/…/road…/cycling-safety-for-children.html