#check to see how long your helmet is good for too; the foam degrades over time even if you haven't had a fall in it. usually it's 3-5 years

[girderednerve]

i don't think i have anxiety or anything but i get upset when i see people, especially kids, on bikes not wearing helmets or wearing incorrectly fitted helmets. i have had one (1) minor concussion in my life & it was so unpleasant & frightening—it locked my brain in terror mode for six hours, my head hurt, i couldn't think, i saw things that weren't there, blah blah—and that happened while i was wearing a correctly fitted, certified helmet for the activity i was doing, and i promptly received appropriate medical care. i don't want that to happen to anybody! if you are riding a bicycle, a scooter, a horse, whatever, or supervising a child who is doing one of those activities, please make sure to use a helmet which is certified for that activity and fits correctly: it should sit level on your head, covering the forehead to just above your eyebrows. the helmet should be snug, so that when you rock it, it gently moves your eyebrows; if you nod your head, it should not lose contact with your skin. the chinstrap should be fastened so that it makes light contact with the underside of your jaw. if you need a bike helmet, check to see if an organization in your area—it is often, unfortunately, the police department—is putting on a bike rodeo or other bicycle safety event; they may have giveaways.