To mark the fifth annual Riders4Helmets International Helmet Awareness Day on 12 July, campaigner Lyndsey White shared 10 tips that riders should remember when it comes to buying and looking after their riding hat:
1. If you have a hard impact blow while wearing your helmet, immediately replace it with a new helmet. There may be damage to the helmet that is not visible to the naked eye.
2. Helmet manufacturers generally recommend replacing your hat every 4-5 years. Helmets take a beating over time from sweat, heat, dust and rain, and the styrofoam liner in the helmet, relinquishes its ability to protect the head over time.
3. A ponytail or different hairstyle can affect the fit of your helmet. When you try on helmets prior to purchase, wear your hair in the style that you expect to wear it when riding.
4. Only purchase a helmet online if it is brand new and unused. Check the date of manufacture. Purchasing a used helmet can be very risky and is NOT recommended. The helmet may have sustained previous damage that you are not able to see.
5. Riding is considered more dangerous than downhill skiing and motorcycling.
6. There is no statistical correlation between skill level and injury likelihood. Professional riders are just as “at risk” to sustain injury due to a fall as amateur riders.
7. Approximately 20% of all accidents which result in head injuries happen while the person is on the ground.
8. Head injuries are cumulative. An original head injury can be made much worse by additional concussions.
9. Even a fall from a standing horse can be catastrophic. Your injury risk depends on the height from which you fall, as well as the speed at which you are traveling.
10. It is best if you invest in your own helmet, regardless of whether or not you own a horse. In addition to wearing a properly fitted helmet, the harness must fit snugly, in order for the helmet not to rotate should you have a fall.
International Helmet Awareness Day (IHAD) gives equestrians the chance to purchase a new helmet at a lower price. For more information on the Riders4Helmets campaign and IHAD, visit riders4helmets.com.