Page 80 - GreenBook

be able to place the balls of both feet on the ground.
• Straddling the center bar, your child should be able to keep both

feet flat on the ground, with about 1 inch clearance between the

crotch and the bar.

• When buying a bike with hand brakes for an older child, make sure
that the child can comfortably grasp the brakes and apply sufficient
pressure to stop the bike.

e. Consider a helmet standard equipment. When buying your child's first
bike, be sure to also purchase an ANSI or Snell approved helmet.

4. About Bicycle Helmets:
a. You should buy only a helmet that meets the bicycle helmet safety
standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the

Snell Memorial Foundation. All helmets do not meet these standards

and do not provide good protection in accidents. Any helmet meeting

these standards is labeled. Check the inside.

b. Helmets designed for other uses or sports should not be used as a
bicycle helmet.

c. Types of helmets: The essential part of the helmet for impact
protection is a thick layer of firm polystyrene, plastic foam, that crushes
on impact, absorbing the force of the blow. All helmets require a chin
strap to keep them in place in a crash. There are two types of shells on

helmets:

• Hard-shell helmets have a hard outer shell of plastic or
fiberglass that provides a shield against penetration by sharp
objects and holds the polystyrene together if it cracks in a fall
or crash. These helmets are more sturdy, but tend to be

heavier and warmer than the soft-shell models.
• Soft-shell helmets have no hard outer shell but are made of an

extra-thick layer of polystyrene covered with a cloth cover or
surface coating. The cloth cover is an essential part of many
soft-shell helmets. If the helmet comes with a cover, the cover
must always be worn to hold the helmet together if the
polystyrene cracks on impact. Both types meet ANSI and
SNELL standards; the main difference is style and comfort.
The soft-shell helmets are lighter than the hard-shell versions
but may be less durable.

d. Fitting a heimet: A helmet should be worn squarely on top of the head,
covering the top of the forehead. If it is tipped back, it will not protect

the forehead. The helmet fits well if it doesn't move around on the head

or slide down over the wearer's eyes when pushed or pulled. The chin
strap should be adjusted to fit snugly. An infant's or child's helmet
should fit for several years. Most models have removable fitting pads
that can be replaced with thinner ones as the child's head grows.

e. infant heimets: Infant-sized helmets are usually of the soft-shell type.
They are light, an important consideration for small children whose

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