Why Helmets are Necessary

Human beings have a lot of internal organs. Big surprise, right? Some of them are more important than others. We are all born with gallbladders, yet doctors find that removing this strange little thing causes no observable health problems. Most of us are also born with brains. Unfortunately, doctors have found that removing the brain cause some rather distinct health problems, most notable of which is death. That is right, that brain is important. You would do well to protect it.

The Straight Facts

Every year, hundreds of motorcyclists and bicyclist are killed in accidents. A majority of these deaths involve some degree of trauma to the head. Helmets have been estimated to reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent! The best way to stay safe is to avoid collisions altogether, the second best way to stay safe is to wear a helmet. New York recently released a statistic that stated that 97 percent of fatal bicycle accidents which occurred in 2013 involved riders who were not wearing a helmet.

How do Helmets Work?

The primary goal of the helmet is to reduce the amount of trauma inflicted on the brain. They accomplish this by reducing the amount of energy that is transmitted between say, the ground, a poll or rock, and the rider’s skull. Helmets are made out of a firm, yet crushable foam. When the high energy of a crash is applied to the foam, it begins to crumple, absorbing energy, and extending the duration of a rider’s stopping time by a few thousandths of a second. These thousandths matter and can be the difference between life and death. If a helmet has been involved in an accident it needs to be replaced. Once the foam has collapsed, it will be useless in the event of another crash. Everyone out there should be wearing a helmet! They should also be doing everything they can do avoid a collision in the first place.