Save Your Noggin!

Safety in every sport comes from the proper helmet.  You wouldn’t go out to play hockey in a bike helmet, so it is just as unsafe to wear a skateboard helmet on the ski slopes and so on.

In Canada, every helmet for sale must be certified by CPSC, CE, CSA, Snell or ASTM. These helmets are designed as single-impact helmets. That means that if you hit one of these onto the ground just once, they must be thrown out and replaced with a new one, even if they look undamaged.  The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has rules for helmets that want to be recognized as multi-use helmets, but there aren’t any that have earned this approval yet. When they are available, they will be marked with the CSA approval.

Bike helmets can be used for cycling, inline skating and scooter riding.  For skateboarding, a skateboard helmet must be used, as they cover more of the back of the head.  Some helmets are considered safe for multiple sports, but if this applies to your helmet, the labels should be very clear about which sports.

Helmets for skiing and snowboarding are different again, as falls in these sports can affect different parts of your head at different impact levels.

Use the helmet that is designed for your sport!

Good news – even the lowest priced helmets are certified safe for their sport, so price is not an indicator of quality.  You do want to consider getting a specialty helmet if you are going to be doing tricks or other high-risk elements of the chosen sport.  These will be made to absorb a higher impact level and protect you better.

How do you fit your helmet?

Ski and snowboard helmets should rest two fingers width above the eyebrow and the helmet should be snug and comfortable, with only one finger width under the chinstrap. The helmet pads should touch the cheeks and the forehead, and the helmet back should not touch the nape of the neck. If wearing goggles, there should be little or no gap between the top of the goggles and the helmet. Most helmets come with fitting instructions.

Bike helmets should rest about two fingers width above the eyebrows. The side straps should fit snugly over the ears in a “V” shape. The buckles on the side strap should fit right under the ear. Buckle the chin strap until you can only fit one finger between the strap and your chin.

If you shake your head from side to side and from front to back, the helmet should NOT move around.  This is for all sports. Check the fit of a helmet EVERY time.