Frequently, it becomes pretty apparent that it’s time for you to get yourself a new helmet.
But other times, a slight accident resulting in your bike helmet crash may leave you questioning whether or not you can wear your same helmet further while riding.
The short answer to this question is NO; you need to replace your helmet after a crash, even if you have had a minor collision or just a fall.
After a crash, you are not supposed to wear your helmet. Even if you drop or hit your helmet on a hard surface when it is not in use, it will have sustained some harm to the helmet.
A helmet is a protective piece of equipment made up of multiple layers strong enough to protect your head from an injury.
A modest fall might not destroy your helmet. But it might cause damage to some inside sections of the helmet that are not easily visible.
Thus, it becomes incapable of protecting the most vital organ of the human body, which is our head.
A minor helmet crash or bump could be damaging them in a way that we overlook externally.
However, each time a helmet collides with the ground, the collision might degrade the helmet's structure, causing it to lose its ability to withstand future collisions.
Consider anything in particular that you might be able to relate to in this case.
Let’s suppose if you have dropped your phone onto the surface for the first time and it has not broken yet and it’s still working perfectly. But can you ensure that it will still work if you drop it repeatedly?
You won’t be able to notice any cracks or have any problems right now. But you can’t be sure if it will be fine if you drop this again.
It may not be able to withstand another fall, as tumbling off the ground multiple times will undoubtedly degrade its system.
Similarly, a good helmet is strong enough to protect your head from any head injury, but after it crashes, it loses its original strength and will no longer protect you as correctly as it used to.
It might not break off on the first fall, but it might dangerously break apart on its second fall.
Helmets have nothing to do with fashion or trends.
Helmets are designed to protect your head from injury in the case of any unpleasant incidents.
In the event of a significant accident, it will not offer you the same protection level or may not give any protection at all.
So, what’s the point of wearing a helmet if it’s not going to protect you?
You should therefore replace your helmet with the new one if you have had accidents before. Even the minor fall could have caused damages inside the helmet, which you might not be aware of.
Things We Can do With Helmets After a Crash
We talked briefly about not using those helmets involved in crashes. Even if they look fit for using while riding, which then leaves us with helmets we cannot use further.
If you are a regular cyclist, you would have many helmets that are no longer in use.
Likewise, we do not dump those excellent-looking helmets in our garbage can. That is why they sit there on our garage’s shelves serving no purpose.
It does not necessarily mean that we have to throw it away if we cannot use it while riding.
Most of you might wonder if there is any way we can recycle and convert it into something useful.
Indeed, we cannot recycle those unusable helmets because of the various substances from which the manufacturers make helmets.
The composition consists of plastics to foams and other substances that cannot go through the recycling process.
Nevertheless, you can try different things with those unusable helmets instead of throwing them or storing them with no purpose.
Using as a Decorative Piece
For anyone who loves to make their decorative crafts, this is one great idea.
You may hang and display them on the walls to demonstrate your passion for riding.
You may also organize your old helmet collections on the garage wall, creating a simple yet lovely garage.
If you love painting, you can repaint your old helmets in whichever way you like.
You can display them as a decorative piece. Or you can insert some cool lights, and use them as a lamp.
You may even incorporate them into your costume or headgear for a themed celebration. Using it along with your Halloween costume might be an excellent choice.
Overall, by converting those unusable helmets into something attractive, you can use them as a piece for decoration.
Using Crashed helmet as a Planting Pot
If you enjoy gardening, such helmets may serve you as flower pots to grow flowers or tiny plants.
You may hang the helmets and the plants inside them by attaching a thick chain to both ends of the helmets.
You won’t have to buy as many little plant pots if you use a helmet for this function, and you’ll be able to reuse your helmet.
Giving them to Children or in Schools
You might give those helmets to children to utilize during their indoor playtime.
It could be helpful for them since they can wear professional helmets and pretend to be one of the characters they’re playing.
Even if kids are usually playing in safe zones, wearing a helmet might protect them if they fall on the ground.
Helmet donations to the school are also a terrific idea.
Students can utilize those helmets as props in school stage plays. Teachers can also use them for other extracurricular activities, such as painting and craft classes.
Donating Crashed Helmets to Organizations
Many agencies which serve in emergencies provide drills or first-aid courses for motorcycle riders.
They use the drills to educate bikers about the steps to take on a road accident and how they are done in a safe environment.
As a result, your old but wearable helmet may be helpful to them.
Does Your Helmet have a Lifespan?
Even after a few years of usage, a helmet appears to be in fine shape.
Have you ever wondered if your helmet has a lifespan or not?
By looking at its exterior quality, you can never tell if it will accomplish its function of safeguarding your head correctly.
A helmet, like everything else in the world, has a definite lifespan. The condition in which we use a helmet determines its longevity.
It is recommended not to use a helmet for more than five years, even though the helmet does not exhibit signs of wear or cracks.
Furthermore, Matteo, product manager at Met Helmet, an industry leader in bicycle helmet production since 1987, recommends replacing your helmet every three years for safety reasons.
Just because your helmet appears decent enough to use while riding doesn’t mean all those years of riding haven’t taken a toll.
Even your helmet has not met its expiry date, and you have not used your helmet for a long time, you should check it regularly for any signs of damage before you use it.
Another crucial point to remember regarding helmet expiry is that helmets are made up of complex substances.
Those substances might degrade with time, even if cared about regularly.
While the outside of your helmet may appear to be in excellent shape, it might be damaged inside as it ages.
How do You Know if Your Helmet is Old?
There are different layers inside the hard outer cover of a helmet.
We can check the foam placed on top or underneath the hard covering of the helmet to see whether it is time to replace your helmet.
There is no hard and fast rule for it, but while you’re at it, check to see if it’s still cushioned and comfy. After a lengthy period of use, the foam may get thin and begin to crack.
You may also look at the leather straps of the helmet. If your belt starts to rip apart, it denotes that other sections of the helmet are getting older.
It is essential to take proper care of your helmet to maintain it in excellent working order.
While your helmet is not in use, storing it properly might assist in keeping it from becoming damaged.
It’s also critical to inspect your helmet entirely before going on a ride.
As a biker, a helmet is an essential piece of equipment. It protects your head, face, and, more importantly, your brain from injury in the event of an accident.
Therefore, you must take proper care of your helmet so that it can take care of you in return.
