Each year in Australia an average of 20 people die from head injuries sustained from horse riding incidents. To raise awareness of the proper use of equestrian helmets SAI Global, an expert on product safety standards, will be holding an event with the Moore Park Riding Stables at Centennial Park at 4pm today.
The helmet safety initiative comes following a warning from the Director of the National Injury Surveillance Unit, Dr Raymond Cripps who believes that it is foolish to think you can be safe riding a horse without the right helmet.
“It is possible to sustain serious head injuries which may prove fatal when falling off a horse. Wearing an equestrian helmet that meets the Australian Standard helps to prevent or lessen the severity of head injuries.”
According to the Managing Director of one of Australia’s largest providers of equestrian helmets, Equine Science Distribution, Mr Allen McMillan: ”A helmet needs to display the Australian StandardsMark otherwise it may not have been independently tested or the manufacturer’s processes may not be subject to a regular and rigorous independent assessment.”
“Riders should be wary of products that only bear a manufacturer’s or distributor’s unverified claim of compliance with Australian Standards," said Mr McMillan.
The General Manager of Product Certification at SAI Global, Mr Mario Battaglia, said: “Industry statistics have shown that people wearing a helmet at the time of injury, suffered less from long-term neurological damage.”
“With more than 250, 000 people participating in this sport it is not just about wearing a helmet, it is about wearing the right helmet.
Most accidents happen when the wrong type of helmets were used, or they were fitted incorrectly, previously damaged and it is children who are most at risk. When you consider that adult horses may weigh more than 500kg, can reach speed up to 65 km/h, and kick with a force 1.8 times its weight - the danger is clear.”
The Australian Standard, AS 3838 - 2003, Helmets for horse riding and horse-related activities, specifies requirements for construction, testing, marking, use and care of helmets.
To help protect your head while horse riding always look for a helmet that has been rigorously tested and assessed against the Australian Standard®.
For further information about the “5tick” StandardsMark on horse riding helmets please visit www.sai-global.com or call 1300 65 46 46.