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Time invested in fitting a helmet pays big safety and comfort dividends!

Your objective: Snug, Level, Stable. You want the helmet to be comfortably touching the head all the way around, level and stable enough to resist even violent shakes or hard blows and stay in place. It should be as low on the head as possible to maximize side coverage, and held level on the head with the strap comfortably snug.

Be Prepared for the Worst : Heads come in many sizes and shapes. You should be prepared for the possibility that the helmet you are trying to fit may not be compatible with this particular head. And unfortunately, you should expect to spend ten to fifteen minutes to get your helmet properly fitted.

1. Adjust the fit pads or ring: Helmets that fit with pads come with at least one set of foam fitting pads, and if you got a second set of thicker pads it can be used to customize the shape. For starters, you can often remove the top pad entirely or use the thinnest ones. This lowers the helmet on the head, bringing its protection down further on the sides. It may reduce the flow of cooling air slightly, but probably not enough to notice.

Adjust the side fit pads by using thicker pads if your head is narrow and there is a space, or add thicker pads in the back for shorter heads. You may also move pads around, particularly on the "corners" in the front and rear. Leaving some gaps will improve air flow.

The pads should touch your head evenly all the way around, without making the fit too tight. The pads may compress slightly over time, but not much, so do not count on that to loosen the fit.

The helmet should sit level on the head, with the front just above the eyebrows, or if the rider uses glasses, just above the frame of the glasses. If you walk into a wall, the helmet should hit before your nose does! There are also helmets on the market that use a fitting ring rather than side pads for adjustment. With these one-size-fits-all models you begin by adjusting the size of the ring. Some of them may require the ring so tight for real stability on your head that they feel binding, but loosening the ring can produce a sloppy fit, indicating that the helmet is not for you.

2. Adjust the straps - Now put the helmet on and fasten the buckle. Be sure the front is in front! You want to adjust it to the "Eye-Ear-Mouth" test developed by the Bicycle Coalition of Maine: - When you look upward the front rim should be barely visible to your eye - The Y of the side straps should meet just below your ear - The chin strap should be snug against the chin so that when you open your mouth very wide you feel the helmet pull down a little bit.

With the helmet in position on your head, adjust the length of the rear straps, then the length of the front straps, to locate the Y fitting where the straps come together just under your ear. That may involve sliding the straps across the top of the helmet to get the length even on both sides. Then adjust the length of the chin strap so it is comfortably snug. If it cuts into the chin and is not comfortable, it is too tight.

Now pay attention to the rear stabilizer if the helmet has one. It can keep the helmet from jiggling in normal use and make it feel more stable, but only a well-adjusted strap can keep it on in a crash.When you think the straps are about right, shake your head around violently. Then put your palm under the front edge and push up and back. Can you move the helmet more than an inch or so from level, exposing your bare forehead? Then you need to tighten the strap in front of your ear, and perhaps loosen the rear strap behind your ear. Again, the two straps should meet just below your ear.

Now reach back and grab the back edge. Pull up. Can you move the helmet more than an inch? If so, tighten the rear strap.For a final check, look in a mirror or look at the wearer whose helmet you are fitting. Move the helmet side to side and front to back, watching the skin around the eyebrows. It should move slightly with the helmet. If it does not, the fit pads are probably too thin in front or back.

When you are done, your helmet should be level, feel solid on your head and be comfortable. It should not bump on your glasses (if it does, tighten the nape strap). It should pass the eye-ear-mouth test. You should forget you are wearing it most of the time, just like a seat belt or a good pair of shoes. If it still does not fit that way, keep working with the straps and pads, or try another helmet.

Note: with a helmet that fits this well on a child, you must be sure the child removes the helmet before climbing trees and playing on playground equipment. Otherwise there is a risk of catching the helmet and being strangled! That doesn't happen in normal bike riding, even in crashes, but it can happen while climbing trees or monkey bars.

Finally, you want the straps to stay adjusted. Some helmets--even expensive ones--do not have locking pieces on the side where the straps come together under your ear. If you can move the side buckle with your hand, it will migrate in use. We call that "strap creep," and it is a major problem. If your helmet has non-locking side pieces, that means you have to either put on a rubber band and snug it up under the side buckle, or you will need to sew the straps when you have the fit just right. If you use heavy thread you only need five or six stiches to hold it. It's an extra chore, but worth it.

Article by: Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute

We all know that a bike helmet can save your life. Statistics show that bike helmet use is at an all time high, proving that most people that ride a bike have considered the consequences of an accident and that a helmet will protect their most valuable asset - their head!

What many people have not considered however, is the need to carry ID when they ride. Specific information such as emergency contact numbers, blood type, allergies or what medication you are taking could prove vital to emergency services in the event you are involved in an accident, enabling you to be quickly and effectively treated and your close family and friends informed of your situation.

As unpleasant as it is, the potential for a serious bicycle accident is always present every time you head out on your bike. In 2002, 662 pedal cyclists were killed and an additional 48,000 we injured in traffic crashes in the US. Emerging trends show that cyclists 25 years of age and older made up an increasing proportion of the cyclists involved in accidents, with people of this age more likely to have dependants (children / spouse) that may also suffer from their accident.

Ensuring that the emergency medical personnel can easily and quickly locate your personal contact and medical information is vital that they may notify your family of your accident and ensure your treatment is tailored to any specific needs you may have. Out on a training ride - think about cycling safety.

Many of use carry no more than a few bucks, a banana or two and a drink... who wants to carry a heavy bulky wallet containing your ID? Out on a leisurely ride with your kids - think about cycling safety. You maybe carrying your wallet but there's a good chance that you do not have emergency contact numbers, your blood type, allergies or medications noted in it. Think about cycling safety in a pro-active way.

Thankfully there are more effective and convenient solutions to carrying our ID than hauling your driving license and wallet around 24/7. A new product will soon hit the market that can increase the effectiveness of your helmet and could prove to be a lifesaver after a serious accident cycling safety.

Our Sport ID - Helmet ID system provides vital lifesaving information to emergency services / paramedics when you cannot (i.e. if your unconscious or in a high level of pain whereby you cannot give or remember detailed medical and contact information). Information such as your emergency contact numbers, blood type, allergies and medical history can all be accessed quickly by EMS personnel when needed.

The Sport ID - Helmet system is:

• Highly Reflective - Constructed using 3M Scotchlite yellow reflective material, the system makes you stand out to other road users in low light conditions and increases your cycling safety
• Highly Visible - Emergency personnel need to be able to quickly locate your ID in a hurry, ensure your ID can easily be found. The Sport ID - Helmet system fits to the exterior of your helmet and is quickly located by EMS and increases your cycling safety
• Updateable Information - Your emergency ID system is only effective if the information it contains is up to date. If you move or change telephone numbers (or if any of your emergency contacts do) you will need to update your information. Our Sport ID - Helmet ID system allows you to update information easily and cheaply. It also keeps your vital information private, away from prying eyes, your information is only visible when the ID card is drawn from the sleeve.
• Safe Access to your ID- Avoid helmet ID systems that require your body to be manipulated or moved to access your ID. Systems that store information inside your bike helmet are particularly poor as they necessitate the removal of your helmet and therefore increase the risk of neck & spinal trauma. Our Sport ID helmet system is fitted to the exterior of your helmet ensuring that accessibility is good and minimizes the potential for further injury and increases your cycling safety
• Durable & Hardwearing- Riding your bike can be both hard on you and your equipment. Dirt, mud, dust and water can infiltrate your equipment and your ID. A soggy wet and dirty ID card is of no use if it cannot be read. Our system uses top quality materials, is extremely durable and the information is stored on quality 100% waterproof ID insert cards.

The system has been tested and proven helmet safe by a respected testing laboratory, ensuring the system will not do damage to the helmet shell material and increase your cycling safety. No matter how invincible we think we are or whether we utter "it will never happen to me" or "I've not been in an accident so far", anyone of us could be the next cyclist involved in an accident.

Avoid being the next statistic, the unidentified John or Jane Doe in the back of the ambulance - plan ahead and get ID "You thank yourself if it does ever happen to you". Increase your cycling safety. The Sport ID - Helmet system is available from our website

Jogging around your neighborhood, cycling on mountain trails or hiking the coastal route, there is a common denominator that should be part of these activities, but is absent millions of times a day. Something so simple, that its simplicity is part of the reason it is neglected. It is a lightweight and unobtrusive tool, durable, able to withstand the elements but most importantly, when needed has the necessary content to serve its purpose... What is it you ask?

Personal identification. Has this thought ever crossed your mind while getting ready to hit the trail? This thought crosses millions of people's minds around the world daily, but is often overlooked out of the inconvenience aspect.

To simplify and make more convenient, it should not be complicated. At a minimum it should state who you are and be able to provide the basic information about you and your health, should an emergency situation occur. What essential information should it include?

• Your name
• Emergency contact names and phone numbers
• Allergies
• Medical conditions or special needs
• Blood type
• Primary care physician
  

Basically any information that would be helpful should the unexpected occur and you are rendered helpless to provide.
In the United States alone, in 2004, over half million people were admitted to the emergency rooms completely unconscious. In a situation like a car accident, heart attack, violent attack, unknown medical condition, heat stroke, and similar, every bit of additional information is vital, especially when traveling through unfamiliar areas or territories.

This basic information could save your life or the life of someone close to you.Take action and wear an ID product.

Available in wide range of variation to suit your lifestyle and activity, our Sport ID range provides the perfect method to carry your ID to ensure your information is secure, protected and always available to paramedics and emergency personnel if the need arises.

Medical professionals around the world are trained to search for personal identification and information, so make it easily accessible. Let's get serious about carrying identification for ourselves and the people we care about and take action today.
Visit our website www.vitalid.ca and see how we can help you stay safe in your chosen sport today.

Your a busy mom.... your child has been invited to a playdate at a school friends house and your looking forward to a few hours off while the kids play at their friends house.

Time comes to drop them off at the playdate and your mind is in full gear ... OK, they have a change of clothes, favourite toy, special sippy cup - good to go. On the way out the playdate mom asks for your cell number just in case anything happens.... scrambling around for a pen and a scrap of paper you jot down your number quickly and hurry off for your down time...... Relax!

But wait....... What if the playdate mom looses the scrap of paper or can't make out your quickly jotted number when they need to contact you. You start to worry. Dropping your child off on the playdate isn't quite as relaxing as you had hoped and your looking forward to pick-up time.

We've all done it - playdates can be an exciting time for the child but quite a trauma for the parent. Forgetting to leave your contact number or having to quickly jot it down as an after-thought is something as parents we'd all like to avoid. Fortunately we have the answer!

Kid's Safety ID wristband allows your child to carry your cell phone number, home number and critical medical and allergy information with them at all times. With your child wearing the wristband when attending playdates, the whole process become a little less hurried and you can relax. All you have to do if tell the playdate mom that your child is wearing the ID band and if they need to get in touch with you for whatever reason, all of your contact details can be found inside your child's ID band.

Our Kids Safety ID bands are strongly constructed so can withstand all of the wear and tear only a child can dish out. Available in several colors and designs our Playdate ID band is attractive and comfortable for your child to wear everyday, not just for playdate visits.

Our Kids Safety ID band can give you as a parent equal peace of mind when dropping off your child with their grandparents, birthday parties or even when your visiting a busy shopping mall or the grocery store - we all know it only takes a child a second to be come distracted and start to wander!

We designed our Kids Safety ID band to be 100% child friendly and be able to cope with prolonged use - lots of kids that wear our ID bands never take them off and sometimes even sleep in them!. !00% waterproof our Kids ID band can be used at the water park, in the swimming pool or even in in ocean. The bands contains a waterproof ID card discreetly held within a special ID pocket inside the band. If your child's information needs to be updated should you change cell numbers or your child's medical / allergy conditions change, then updating the band is as easy as filling out and exchanging the old ID card for a new one.

Another Vital ID solution - our Kids Safety ID band to find out more, visit our website