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said they were wearing a hel- met but it flew off their head because it wasn’t properly fas- tened.” The doctor also pointed out the importance of making

concussion an injury to the brain which changes the way it works Words to Understand

sure to use a helmet that fits well. She even suggested making sure to have the bike store expert fit the helmet on the user before they leave the shop. The strap should be snug under the chin and fully extended from the helmet. If the straps are loose or twisted, the snap might pop open. A helmet that falls off is no better than no helmet at all. The doctor opened a cabinet in the room and brought out a mangled bicycle helmet. She handed it to Rania. Rania looked at the helmet, her eyes big and round. “Wow. What happened to this?” “And more importantly, what happened to the person who was wearing it?” said her mom. Dr. Williams told the story. A 15-year-old boy was riding his mountain bike on a path in the local woods. He went over a jump, slipped on the landing, and ran head first into a tree. He broke his collarbone and ended up with a concussion . “A concussion, remember, is a serious injury to the brain. It changes the way the brain oper- ates, at least temporarily. Many people get concussions from a hit to the head, like this patient.

This helmet might have saved a life. Bicycle safety experts say that any cracked or damaged helmet should be replaced.

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