Contact forces 8.1 Lesson 13 Anatomy of a bike helmet

Anatomy of a bike helmet

Importance of Bike Helmets

Have you ever fallen while riding a bicycle? Hopefully you were wearing a helmet! Hitting your head on a hard surface like the road or a sidewalk might result in a serious brain injury. For example, the occipital lobe of your brain, located in the back of your head, is where your vision is processed. A hard blow to the back of your head could leave you with severe vision loss or even total blindness.

You may remember that long nerve cells called neurons are responsible for your sense of touch and for sending messages to and from your brain and spinal cord. Your brain contains neurons too. You may also remember that neurons send chemical signals from one axon of a cell to another cell to communicate with each other. Neuron activity and connections between neurons in your brain are very important to memory formation.

Drag and Drop

Long nerve cells called ​

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are responsible for your sense of touch and for sending messages to and from your brain and spinal cord

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neurons

fingers

cells

pressure points

Contact forces to your head can transfer energy to your brain, causing it to twist and collide with the inside of your skull. This can result in a concussion. Contact forces to the brain can cause cell damage. Some effects of cell damage include headaches, trouble concentrating, and memory loss. An impact to the head that causes a concussion can cause the long, connecting nerve cells in the brain to stretch and break. Some nerve cells can recover from injury, but more severely injured cells lose their ability to send signals.

Protect Your Brain:

• Concussions and Nerve Cell Damage: Concussions can cause nerve cells in the brain to stretch and break, leading to memory loss.
• Multiple Concussions: Getting multiple concussions can have severe consequences, including long-term cognitive impairments.
• Wear a Helmet: Wearing a helmet during activities like cycling can protect your brain and reduce the risk of concussions.

Multiple Choice

What are the consequences of getting multiple concussions?

• Memory loss

• Long-term cognitive impairments

• Reduced risk of concussions

• Nerve cell damage

Consequences of Multiple Concussions

• Memory loss: Multiple concussions can lead to memory problems.
• Long-term cognitive impairments: Repeated concussions can cause lasting cognitive issues.
• Nerve cell damage: Multiple concussions can result in damage to nerve cells.

Importance of Bike Helmets

Wearing a helmet can reduce serious head injuries by 60%. Choose a helmet approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It should fit snugly, have adjustable straps, be lightweight and comfortable, and not block vision. Price doesn't determine effectiveness. Low-cost helmets meeting safety standards are good choices.

• Protect your brain
• Choose a certified helmet
• Ensure proper fit and comfort
• Don't compromise on safety

Multiple Choice

What factors should be considered when choosing a bike helmet?

• Price and comfort

• Certification and fit

• Weight and vision

• Brand and style

Certification and Fit

When choosing a bike helmet, it's important to consider certification and fit. Look for helmets that are certified by organizations like the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) or the Snell Memorial Foundation. Additionally, make sure the helmet fits properly by adjusting the straps and checking for a snug and comfortable fit.

Importance of Bike Helmets

• Structure: Hard outer shell made of lightweight materials like polycarbonate or fiberglass. Inner layer of crushable foam with air pockets.
• Snug and Stable Fit: Adjustable straps and pads ensure a secure fit for different head sizes.
• Replace if: Helmet doesn't meet safety standards, doesn't fit well, or has been in a collision.
• Unsafe: Small cracks in the outer shell can compromise protection. Crushed inner foam in one spot also makes the helmet unsafe.

Multiple Choice

What are some signs that indicate a bike helmet is unsafe?

• The helmet is made of lightweight materials like polycarbonate or fiberglass.

• The helmet has adjustable straps and pads for a secure fit.

• The helmet has small cracks in the outer shell.

• The helmet has been in a collision.

Unsafe Bike Helmet

Trivia: A bike helmet with small cracks in the outer shell is considered unsafe. Other signs include lightweight materials, adjustable straps for a secure fit, and helmets that have been in a collision. Remember to always check your helmet for any signs of damage before using it for safety reasons.