A consultant paediatrician at Children's Health Ireland (CHI) in Crumlin has said if she could prescribe a helmet to every child in Ireland, she would.
Dr Carol Blackburn said that wearing helmets reduce the likelihood of brain injury by over 80% and facial injuries by 65%.
She urged parents not to underestimate the speed a child can build up on a bicycle and "just like it is a given that everyone wears a seatbelt in a car, it should be ingrained from a young age that everyone always wears a helmet on their bike. Even smaller children on their scooters should start the habit early.
"If I could prescribe a helmet to every child in Ireland, I would."
Children's Health Ireland said that every summer hospital emergency departments see a big uptick in the number of children injured while not wearing helmets on their bikes or scooters.
It said staff have reported seeing skull fractures, concussions, cuts and facial injuries that may have been avoided if children were wearing their helmets.
According to CHI, here are five tips to get the perfect fit for your child's helmet:
- The best way to get the best fit is to first measure your child's head and then buy the right size helmet for them. But even then, it will need some adjusting.
- The helmet should cover most of their forehead with only room for two fingers between their eyebrows and their helmet. If it is too low, they won't be able to see properly. If it is too high, it won't protect their forehead properly.
- The helmet should not move from side to side or backwards and forwards. Use the bands within the helmet to make sure it is stable on their head. Ask them to shake their head to make sure it stays in place.
- The straps should fit below their ears and be firm and snug. You should not be able to get more than one finger in between the straps and their chin. If you can, tighten them up.
- Check the fit regularly as straps can loosen over time.
- Don't forget to set the best example and wear your helmet too.
