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Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend August 4, 2006 It�s vital to use a bicycle helmet every time you ride. Parents should set a good example by wearing helmets along with their children. The risk of a head injury is always present since bicyclists often must share roads with cars unless there is a bicycle lane. (Photos.com) Use your head: Wear your bicycle helmet Even casual or slow bicycling sometimes leads to an accident After the heart, the brain is probably the most valuable component of the human body. We are fortunate that our brain is encased in a fairly hard outer shell that protects it from minor bumps and knocks. However, major impacts with another solid surface can cause major trauma to the brain and could alter one's life significantly in a negative way. So it's particularly disturbing to me, as a cyclist, when I see children AND adults riding bicycles without helmets. So often I see adults riding bicycles with their children and the kids are wearing helmets, but the adults are not. What kind of message are they sending? Adults are less likely to fall on their heads than children? As adults we tend to think children can't think for themselves so we enact laws to protect their skulls so they survive to become productive adults. Since 1994, Oregon law requires that all children under the age of 16 wear helmets when riding bicycles. Advertisement However, adults seem to think we are intelligent enough to determine when we need to wear a helmet. Some adults seem to have a bizarre idea that they are exempt from having accidents. I often have heard these excuses: I don't race my bike ... I only ride on the sidewalk or bike path ... I ride slowly; I don't ride in traffic ... blah, blah, blah ... why do I need to wear a helmet? During the past two years, I personally know of these incidents: (1) a casual bicyclist hit a root bulge on the bicycle path and landed on his head; 2) a casual bicyclist rode down a side street and was hit when a driver opened the passenger door of the car, causing the cyclist to nail the pavement with his head; (3) a bicyclist stopped at a stop sign, dismounted from the bike and was run over by a vehicle cutting the corner when turning; and (4) a casual bicyclist turned around to look behind him and ran into a post, landing on his head. I could go on, and on. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, 720 bicyclists died in crashes with motor vehicles in the U.S. in 2005. Every year 540,000 bicyclists visit emergency rooms with injuries. Of those, about 67,000 have head injuries. One in eight of the cyclists with reported injuries has a brain injury and two-thirds of the deaths are from traumatic brain injury. A very high percentage of cyclists' brain injuries, estimated at anywhere from 45 to 88 percent, can be prevented by a helmet. About half of the cycling-related deaths are children under 15 years old. Hmm this is getting to look like a no brainer. Should all cyclists be wearing a helmet? Most helmets are made of EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam with a thin outer shell of polycarbonate plastic, fiberglass or carbon fiber. The outer shell helps distribute impact energy, protects against penetration by sharp objects and helps protect the liner from abrasions and knocks during everyday use. During a crash or fall, the helmet's liner compresses to absorb impact energy so that the brain doesn't move around the inside of the skull with as much force. This reduces the likelihood of the most common brain injuries. The helmet must stay on your head even when hit more than once — such as by a car first, and then the road. So it needs a strong strap and an equally strong fastener. The helmet should sit level on your head. Above all, the strap should be fastened and you should not be able to get the helmet off your head by any combination of pulling or twisting. Helmets made for U.S. sale must meet the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission standard, so look for a CPSC sticker. Although safety is the primary concern, most current helmets also are designed for comfort, and have adequate cooling, fitting pads and are extremely light and comfortable. The price of helmets can range from about $20 to hundreds of dollars. However, a discount helmet can be equally protective if you take the time to fit it carefully and wear it. Replace any helmet if you crash. Impact crushes some of the foam; even though the damage may not be visible. Helmets work so well that you may need to examine them for marks or dents to know if they were affected. Most manufacturers recommend replacement after three to five years even if it has not been in an accident. In summary, always wear a helmet when you ride a bicycle. Make sure it fits, is worn properly and the straps are buckled. Do you have a brain worth protecting? If so, then you need to wear a helmet. All smart people wear helmets. Have a safe ride. Bicycling enthusiast Bob Korfhage of Phoenix is a former president of Siskiyou Velo bicycle club. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Advertisement s Advertisement