The right helmet can save a life
By JOHN YAUKEY, Gannett News Service
Motorcycle helmets come in many shapes and sizes. So do head injuries, which means choosing the right helmet deserves time, thought and perhaps some shopping around.
Here are some key considerations:
Certification
Transportation Department endorsement, shown by a DOT sticker on the back of a helmet, is the gold standard for head protection. It requires a helmet be capable of absorbing significant impact, prevent most penetration and have a strong fastening system.
Coverage
A full-face helmet with a flip-up visor and chin bar provides the most protection. Next best is an open-face helmet, which protects the ears and the entire skull but not the chin. Open-face helmets may come equipped with a snap-on visor. Skullcap helmets, which cover only the top and back of the head down to the ears, offer the least protection.
A 2003 study done at the University of California at Los Angeles and published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine found that motorcyclists with facial injuries were 3.5 times more likely to have a brain injury than those without facial injuries, and those with facial fractures were 6.5 times more likely to have brain injuries.
Liner
Helmets meeting the federal safety standard usually have inner liners of firm polystyrene foam, typically about an inch thick. The liners may not be visible, but you still should be able to feel their thickness. Unsafe helmets typically contain only soft foam padding or none at all.
Chinstrap and rivets
Helmets meeting the federal safety standard have sturdy chinstraps and solid rivets.
Weight
Helmets meeting the federal standard generally weigh about three pounds. They have a more substantial feel than helmets that don't meet the standard.
Design
Visors are allowed under the federal safety standard. But a spike or other protruding decorations indicate an unsafe helmet.
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Originally published March 26, 2008
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