Helmets Protect Against Brain Injury

For many recreational activities, wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of a serious head injury and even save your life.

A helmet protect the head during a fall or collision, because most of the impact energy is absorbed by the helmet, rather than your head and brain.

Bicycle and motorcycle helmets must comply with mandatory federal safety standards. Many other recreational helmets are subject to voluntary safety standards.

Helmets certified to a safety standard are designed and tested to protect the user from serious head injury while wearing the helmet. For example, all bicycle helmets manufactured after 1999 must meet the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) bicycle helmet standard. Most helmets are tested by the Snell Memorial Foundation.

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