Helmet Safety

Helmets are designed with a specific sport in mind. When looking for a helmet, your first priorities are size, fit and protection:

1. Size:

To determine what size helmet you need, use a measuring tape. Wrap that tape around the largest part of your head.

2. Fit:

The helmet should cover the top of your head. The back of the helmet should not touch the nape of the neck. To check the fit of the helmet, place two fingers above your eyebrow; this is where the front of the helmet should sit.

3. Protection:

In order to protect your head properly, make sure the pads inside the helmet are flush against your forehead.

Test the helmet when you purchase it. Try rolling it off your head. The skin of your forehead should move with the helmet. If the helmet slides back, it does not fit you correctly and will not protect your head properly.

Helmet Laws in New Jersey

If you are under the age of 17, New Jersey's helmet law requires that you wear your helmet while participating in wheeled sports such as rididng a bicycle, skateboarding, scootering or skating.

Helmets and the brain

• Universal use of helmets could prevent one death every day and one brain injury every four minutes
• It's not only important to wear a helmet, it's important to wear it the right way!
• Proper use of helmets could reduce brain injuries by 85%
• Having parents who wear bike helmets encourages children to use them too!

Don't forget!

Replace your helmet after a crash or when it no longer fits correctly.

Helmets should have information on certification and/or meet safety standards from one or more of the following: CPSC, ASTM, ANSI or SNELL, to ensure that the helmet has passed safety tests.