Goddard News The Goddard News is published weekly by the Office of Public Affairs
Safety Corner
Scientific Colloquium
Engineering Colloquium
Goddard in the News
Announcements
Events at Goddard
Contact Us
Goddard News Archives
Home
Download Acrobat Reader Free
Get Adobe Acrobat Reader
NASA Logo
Send Mail to Curator: Trusilla Steele
NASA Website Privacy Statement

Safety Corner

     
Protect Yourself...Wear a Helmet!

What do bicycling, horseback riding, baseball and in-line skating all have in common? Helmets! The trick is that different sports require different types of helmets to help protect participants from the different ypes of head injuries common to that particular sport.

All helmets are not created equal; beyond picking the right helmet for the sport, buyers should look inside the helmet for information on standards the helmet complies with. Bike helmets for example should carry a CPSC, Snell, ASTM, or ANSI sticker or label.

Fit is key:

A loose helmet cannot protect the head as well as one that is properly fit. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute suggests buying a brand and size that fits well prior to adjustments, and then using the adjustable straps and/or sizing pads to ensure a snug fit. Select a helmet that fits you or your child now, not a helmet to "grow into."

Helmets save lives:

  • According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, a bicycle helmet reduces the risk of serious head and brain injury by 85%.
  • More than 70,000 persons need hospital emergency room treatment each year for injuries related to skateboarding according to the CPSC.
  • Head injuries cause three-quarter of about 900 bicycle deaths each year, according to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Injury Institute, a helmet advocacy program of the Washington, D.C., area Bicyclist Association.
  • According to the Brain Injury Association in Alexandria, VA, another 82,000 people suffer brain injuries each year while playing sports such as baseball, football, and other sports.
  • Brain surgeons and doctors across the U.S. agree that wearing helmets can save lives.

Both children and adults should wear the appropriate helmet when participating in the following sports, or any recreational activity where head injuries are a risk:

ATV riding Baseball
Bicycling Football
Horseback riding In-line skating
Rock climbing Skateboarding
Softball  

For handling sports-related injuries and other emergencies, everyone should be trained in first aid.