Your child can make a real fashion statement when selecting a bike helmet these days. There are hundreds of styles to choose from, every color of the rainbow, and just about every cartoon character. Just be sure you help them choose one that has a sticker from either the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) or Snell Memorial Foundation (a nonprofit organization that tests helmet safety). The sticker shows that the helmet has met certain safety standards created by the U.S. government.

Your child always should wear a helmet when riding a bike to help protect against head injury in case of an accident. But just wearing a helmet is not enough. The helmet must fit properly and be worn correctly.

A bike helmet should fit snugly enough that it cannot be suddenly pulled or twisted around on the child’s head. The straps should form a “V” underneath each earlobe and always be fastened when riding. No more than one finger’s width should fit beneath the strap. The bike helmet should be worn level and cover the forehead. The rim of the helmet should rest approximately one to two fingers width above the eyebrows. A hat should not be worn under the helmet.

Helmets made before 1999 do not meet current safety standards and should be exchanged. A helmet that has been involved in an accident loses the capacity to absorb shock and also must be replaced. Children should not wear bicycle helmets when playing on the playground or climbing trees because there may be a risk of strangulation from the chin straps.

Approximately 300,000 children go to the emergency room every year because of bicycle injuries, almost half of which involve traumatic brain injuries. Nearly 80 percent of deaths related to bike accidents involve head injuries. Helmets can decrease the risk of brain injury in a bike accident by nearly 90 percent. But no helmet can protect against every impact. Talk to your children about bike safety and set a good example by wearing a helmet yourself.