Helmet, the 'life-saving artifact' at critical moments

Helmet, the 'life-saving artifact' at critical moments

The reason why helmets can become "life-saving tools" is determined by their scientifically reasonable construction and advanced cushioning and shock absorption principles. The common riding helmets on the market are mainly composed of an outer shell, a cushioning layer, an inner lining layer, a wearing device, and goggles.

The shell is the first line of defense for helmets, usually made of hard materials such as polycarbonate, carbon fiber, etc. These materials have excellent impact resistance and wear resistance, just like a sturdy shield, which can effectively resist direct impact from external objects, prevent sharp objects from penetrating, and provide the outermost protection for the head.

The buffer layer is the core part of the helmet, which is generally made of foam materials such as expanded polystyrene (EPS) and expanded polypropylene (EPP). When an accident occurs and the head is hit, the buffer layer will quickly take effect. Taking EPS material as an example, its unique honeycomb like microstructure inside resembles tightly arranged energy sponges. Under the impact force, the honeycomb wall will bend, fold or even break, which is the key to absorbing impact energy. Every deformation of the microstructure consumes and converts impact energy, converting it into other forms of energy such as thermal energy, effectively reducing the impact force transmitted to the head. According to professional testing, EPS can absorb most of the impact energy during high-speed impact, reducing the force transmitted to the head to less than 20% of its original level, greatly reducing the risk of head injury. At the same time, the buffer layer can evenly distribute the impact force. When the impact point is concentrated in a certain part of the helmet, it will spread the impact force to the surrounding area through its structural characteristics, avoiding injury to the head caused by excessive local force.

The inner lining layer is generally made of soft fabric or sponge, mainly used to increase the comfort of wearing, while also absorbing sweat to a certain extent and reducing friction between the head and the helmet. Wearing a device ensures that the helmet can be securely worn on the head, preventing it from falling off in the event of a violent impact. Common wearing devices include straps, buckles, etc. Goggles can protect the eyes from damage caused by sandstorms, insects, splashes, etc. At the same time, they can also improve the clarity of the rider's vision at night or in adverse weather conditions.


Data is the most powerful proof, enough to make us clearly realize the importance of helmets. According to research by relevant authoritative institutions, wearing helmets correctly can reduce the proportion of head injuries by 70% and the mortality rate by more than 40% in cycling accidents. This means that wearing helmets can significantly reduce our risk of serious injury in accidents. The head injury rate without wearing a helmet is 2.5 times higher than wearing a helmet, and the fatal injury rate is 1.5 times higher than wearing a helmet. From these shocking data, we can intuitively see the enormous protective effect of helmets on the safety of riders' lives.