Bike Helmets Guidelines

OMB Control Number 3041-0029

Appendix 107
January 1991
BIKE HELMETS
I.

INTRODUCTION

A.

Background Information

There are a large number of bicycle-related injuries with
serious outcomes (including death) that occur each year.
Annually, there are about one-half million emergency room-treated
injuries and about 1,200 deaths. About two-thirds of the
injuries and one-third of the fatalities involve children under
age fifteen. A recent Seattle study (and other studies of more
limited scope) concluded that bicycle helmets reduce the risk of
injuries and deaths.
Numerous organizations are now actively promoting helmet use
(e.g., American Academy of Pediatrics, Safe Kids, etc.). In May
of 1989, CPSC signed an agreement with the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to cooperate in efforts to
improve the safety of bicyclists. CPSC has also issued a
Back-to-School Safety Alert urging bicyclists to wear helmets.
Both the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the
Snell Memorial Foundation have voluntary helmet standards. CPSC
staff is now in the process of evaluating a petition which
requested the Commission to establish a mandatory safety standard
for bicycle helmets.
A comprehensive bicycle project will be conducted FY 91 and
92 to determine the factors contributing to bicycle-related
injuries, including injuries to the head. Meanwhile, public
interest in promoting the use of helmets to increase bicycle
safety continues. Further CPSC endorsement of the use of helmets
would be greatly enhanced by a hazard assessment from which the
Commission could more authoritatively cite evidence of the injury
prevention potential of helmets.
This guideline should be used when conducting bicycle
helmet-related investigations. When the investigation is of a
bicycle-related accident in which those involved were wearing
helmets, be sure to use the investigative guideline for bicycles
(Appendix 44) as well.

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January 1991

B.

Specific Items of Interest

We are interested in finding out the types of helmets worn
by bicyclists today, including the relative levels of safety
offered by the various designs. We will need to consider
accident information in evaluating the adequacy of the existing
voluntary standards for bicycle helmets (ANSI and Snell); as well
as in determining the need for a mandatory helmet standard. Of
particular interest are incidents in which the bicyclist or
passenger incurred a head or neck injury while wearing a helmet,
or in which it appeared that the helmet didn't function properly
(e.g., broke, came off, etc.) in an accident situation.
C.

Headquarters Contacts

Deborah Tinsworth, EPHA 504-0470
John Preston, ESME 504-0494
II.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING SPECIFIC INFORMATION

A.

Synopsis

Provide a brief summary of the accident sequence. Indicate
the factors that contributed to the accident, such as product
failure, collision, loss of control, surface hazard, stunting,
etc. Describe the resulting injuries, particularly if they
involved the head area. Be sure to note that the victim was
wearing a helmet.
For data retrieval from the computer, please make sure the
following key words are used in the synopsis as appropriate:
helmet, collision, head, struck, or fell.
B.

Description of Victim Contact With Product

•

Describe accident scenario, including all injuries or
deaths sustained. Use diagrams to illustrate the
victim's movements during the incident, including the
distance and height of the fall.

•

Note the approximate speed the victim was travelling
(e.g., fast vs slow). Describe any factors which
appeared to contribute to the accident, including

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January 1991

product failure, collision, loss of control, surface
hazards, stunting, the involvement with motor
vehicles, etc. Determine if the victim fell over the
handlebars, or to the side.
•

If the victim hit his or her head (or the helmet), try
to determine the area(s) hit, and the object or
surface on which it impacted. Document with diagrams
and/or photographs any evidence (scratches, cracks,
etc.) of helmet impact.

•

If a head injury occurred, attempt to determine why.
Ask victim for his/her opinion of the performance of
the helmet.

•

Determine if the helmet contributed to the accident in
any way (e.g., blocked vision, caused overheating,
etc.)

•

Find out if chin strap was secured and if helmet stayed
on head at the time of the accident. Indicate if chin
strap broke or helmet broke or cracked during the
accident.

•

Find out if the victim always wears a helmet. If not,
probe for the circumstances under which they might not
(e.g., when they forget, when it is too hot, when
riding a short distance, when not riding in traffic,
when riding at low speeds, etc.).

•

Find out to whom the helmet belongs. If it belongs to
the victim, determine if there were I specific helmet
features that were important in the selection of this
helmet (e.g., safety certification, design, cost,
etc.).

•

Specify how many years victim had been riding bicycles,
the frequency of riding (e.g., daily, weekends,
holidays, vacations, etc.), and how long the victim had
been using a bicycle helmet.

C.

Description of Product

•

Describe the design of the helmet (e.g., a hardshell

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January 1991

helmet may be composed of polystyrene foam covered with
a heavy plastic covering; a softshell helmet may be
made of lightweight polystyrene foam with no plastic
covering: a thinshell helmet may be made of
polystyrene foam with a light or thin plastic
covering). Include the ventilation features of the
helmet; the extent of head coverage; the presence or
absence of features to protect the face; and the type
of attachment straps on the helmet (e.g., adjustable on
one or both sides, made from one or more than one
piece, riveted to the helmet or attached in some other
way, the type of buckle, etc.). Obtain color
photographs, if possible.
•

Indicate the presence of an ANSI (American National
Standards Institute), SNELL (Snell Memorial
Foundation), or other safety certification sticker on
the helmet.

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January 1991

•

Describe any other markings, cautions, and whether or
not labeled to discard if involved in an impact
incident.

•

Specify the presence of reflective materials on the
helmet.

•

Report the manufacturer name, brand name, model/serial
number, and price of the helmet.

•

Specify the size of the helmet for a child/adult), and
describe how well it fit the victim (and who did the
fitting). Find out if the helmet was purchased
specifically for the wearer or for someone else.

•

If the helmet was owned by the victim, specify whether
the helmet was purchased new or used, and the date and
place (i.e., name and type of store) of purchase.
Indicate whether the helmet was purchased with or after
the purchase of a bicycle.

•

Find out if helmet had ever been involved in a previous
impact incident, and if so, severity and description of
damage to helmet. NOTE: IF THE HELMET HAD EVER BEEN
INVOLVED IN A MAJOR IMPACT INCIDENT AND IS STILL BEING
USED, ADVISE THE VICTIM TO REPLACE IT.

D.

Description of Victim

•

Indicate the victim's age, sex, height, and any
competence-reducing factors (e.g., impaired vision,
physical handicaps, medication, alcohol, etc.) that may
have been present at the time of the accident.

•

Describe
accident
that may
a helmet
etc.).

•

Find out if the victim was the rider of the bicycle, a
passenger or a non-rider (i.e., bystander).

•

Describe the nature and extent of the injuries, with

how the victim was clothed at the time of the
(including -any other protective equipment
have been worn). Indicate if anything beside
was worn on the head (e.g., headphones, hat,

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January 1991

special attention to the points of impact (and if
possible, the sequence of impact) of the body parts
involved. Indicate the body part(s) treated, and the
type of treatment received. If a head injury was
involved, find out if the victim lost consciousness, or
felt any dizziness, nausea, or headaches. Determine if
there were any lasting or permanent effects due to the
accident. Obtain the medical records of treatment,
including hospital records, ER records, and records of
subsequent treatment received, particularly for head
injuries. If death occurred, obtain police, medical
examiner, coroner, or other relevant reports.
•

E.

Determine if there were any passengers on the bicycle
at the time of the accident. If so, describe the nature
and extent of any injuries incurred by the passenger,
and indicate whether or not they were wearing a helmet.
Description of Environment

•

Describe the terrain and surface on which the victim
was riding at the time of the accident. Note the
condition of the riding surface (e.g., slick from
gravel, water, ice, leaves; uneven with ruts, bumps,
potholes, etc.).

•

Indicate time of day of the accident, and the amount of
daylight or other lighting present.

•

Describe the weather conditions at the time of the
accident, including temperature, precipitation, and
visibility.

•

Report the location of the accident (e.g., sidewalk or
playground; neighborhood street with low traffic
volume; highway or street with high traffic volume;
bike path, indicating whether on or separate from
roadway; unpaved road; other unpaved surfaces or
trails; etc.).

III. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING AND DIAGRAMING
HELMET AND ACCIDENT SEQUENCE

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January 1991

We are interested in obtaining color photographs of the
helmet to illustrate the construction, design, fit, and areas of
failure or damage. We would also like a step-by-step, detailed
diagram of the accident sequence. Include measurements of the
distance(s) the victim(s) fell or were thrown, the location of
objects impacted, the direction of the fall, and the orientation
of the head and body at the time of impact.

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