Helmet Relay

Before the meeting: 

1. Remind parents and legal guardians that Cub Scouts will need to bring their bike helmet to the den meeting.  
2. Secure additional adult supervision. 
3. Print a copy of the Helmet Safety Checklist for each relay team. 
4. Become familiar with the proper fitting of a bike helmet by reviewing “Easy Steps to Properly Fit a Bicycle Helmet.” 
5. Identify a safe area free of obstacles for the Cub Scouts to run a relay race.  
6. The day before the meeting remind everyone in the den of the date, time, and location, and to bring their helmets and to wear what they would wear on a bike ride. 
7. If anyone is going to borrow a helmet, disinfect the helmet with an over-the-counter disinfectant spray. 

During the meeting: 

1. Gather the Cub Scouts and inform them that when we ride bikes wearing a helmet is one of the most important safety gear we have.  A bicycle crash can happen at any time. A properly fitted bicycle helmet reduces the risk of head injury. More children aged 5 to 14 go to hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with bicycles than with any other sport. Many of these injuries involve the head. Just like any safety gear, in order for it to work properly you have to wear it properly.   
2. Demonstrate to know that your bike helmet is fitted properly and if it doesn’t how to adjust it. 
   • Your helmet should fit snuggly. While it is sitting flat on top of your head, make sure the helmet doesn’t rock side to side. Sizing pads come with new helmets; use the pads to securely fit to your head. Mix or match the sizing pads for the greatest comfort. In your child’s helmet, remove the padding when your child’s head grows. If the helmet has a universal fit ring instead of sizing pads, adjust the ring size to fit the head. 
   • The helmet should sit level on your head and low on your forehead—one or two finger-widths above your eyebrow. 
   • Center the left buckle under the chin. On most helmets, the straps can be pulled from the back of the helmet to lengthen or shorten the chin straps. This task is easier if you take the helmet off to make these adjustments. 
   • Adjust the slider on both straps to form a “V” shape under, and slightly in front of,  the ears.  Lock the  slider if possible. 
   • Buckle your chin strap. Tighten the strap until it is snug, so that no more than one or two fingers fit under the strap. 
   • A. Does your helmet fit right? Open your mouth wide…big yawn! The helmet should pull down on the head. If not, refer back to step 5 and tighten the chin strap. B.  Does your helmet rock back more than two fingers above the eyebrows? If so, unbuckle, shorten the front strap by moving the slider forward.  Buckle, retighten the chin strap, and test again. C.  Does your helmet rock forward into your eyes? If so, unbuckle, tighten the back strap by moving the slider back toward the ear. Buckle, retighten the chin strap, and test again. D.  Roll the rubber band down to the buckle. All four straps must go through the rubber band and be close to the buckle to prevent the buckle from slipping. 
3. Separate Cub Scouts into two teams. Assign an adult to each team. 
4. Have Cub Scouts form two separate lines. 
5. Adults stand about 5 yards away with the helmets of the Cub Scouts on their team.  
6. When you say go, one player from each team runs run to their helmet, puts it on and checks to make sure it is on correctly.  
7. Using the checklist, the adult checks the fit. Once the helmet fits properly, the Cub Scout runs back to their team, with their helmet on, and tags the next player.  
8. Continue until all Cub Scouts have finished. 
9. The team that gets their helmets on properly and is sitting  first wins.