BELLBROOK FIRE/EMS

Helmets save lives!

Bellbrook Fire/EMS Bicycle Patrol members always wear their helmets not because we have to -- but because it's the right thing to do! Read the information below and remember:
Helmets save lives!

There are plenty of reasons to wear a helmet, but here's a few numbers to ponder:

• Bicycle crashes kill 900 people each year and send more than 550,000 to hospital emergency departments with injuries.
• Every year, 350,000 children under the age of 15 go to hospital emergency rooms with bicycle-related injuries; 130,000 of these kids suffer head injuries.
• Bike helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent!

With these numbers in mind, it's surprising that some people can even consider going without a helmet. But it's more than just a handfull. Consider this:

• 57 percent of bike riders don't wear a bike helmet every time they ride a bike.
• 40 percent don't ever wear a bike helmet.
• 41 percent of parents say their kids always wear a bicycle helmet, but only 29 percent of kids say they always wear one!

Bike helmets must fit to be safe. A helmet that isn't the correct size may not protect you effectively in an accident.

The helmet should fit snugly enough so it doesn't slide from side-to-side or front-to-back. The helmet should be worn on top of the head, not tilted in any direction.

The chinstrap should be comfortably snug. To make sure the strap is adjusted correctly, slide your finger under the strap and then remove your finger: the strap should snap back into place.

If you have more questions, check out these websites or stop by the firehouse and speak to a member of the Bicycle EMS Team!