Munich (dpa/tmn)
A ski helmet is essential on the slopes. But it has to fit properly and it mustn’t be too old either. Only then is the head well protected.
Not too tight and not too loose – ski riders determine their correct helmet size with a measuring tape. This is laid horizontally all around at the widest point of the head, explains the TÜV Süd. The measuring tape is brought together one centimeter above the eyebrows, where the circumference is read. The centimeters correspond to the helmet size.
This is how you can tell whether the helmet fits well: It shouldn’t pinch, but it shouldn’t slip either if you nod, shake your head or hold down with the chin strap open.
A helmet must be discarded after a fall or a strong blow. But even if it is intact, it should be replaced after three to five years at the latest, according to the TÜV, because the plastic ages due to moisture, sweat and sunlight.
