From the GIC Spring 2000 Newsletter pdf format of fybspring2000.pdf

Ready to shake the winter doldrums? Get outdoors and hop on your bike. However, use your head, that is a helmet on your head, along with bicycle safety practices. Leftover winter sand on the street can be particularly hazardous. And, you need to share the road safely with those big cars and trucks you've been in all winter.

Your brain is your best asset
Even a low-speed fall on a bicycle path can cause brain injury. Bicycle helmets can reduce the risk of injury from a bicycle crash by 85%. Seventy to eighty percent of the 1000 deaths each year from bicycle crashes are the result of head injury. Bicycles are the second leading cause of childhood injuries, after automobiles. Doesn't it make sense to protect your (and your child's) head?

Helmet fit: A bicycle helmet should be level on your head, touch all around, be comfortably snug, and not move more than an inch in any direction.

Helmet color: The brighter, the better

Keep it simple: Thin straps, complicated adjustments, aerodynamic designs, visors, and excessive vents are generally less safe and less user friendly than the plainer alternatives.

Helmet resources: All helmets made for U.S. sale after March 10, 1999 must meet the US Consumer Product Safety Commission standard -- look for the sticker. Review helmet specifications and warranties.

Don't wait to replace your helmet: Even if there's no visible damage after a crash, replace your helmet. Also, most manufacturers recommend replacing your helmet every five years.

This information provided by the Group Insurance Commission .