My friend told me that helmets don't prevent concussions. If that's true, what's the point of wearing one when I ride my bike? – Eddie Here's why people wear helmets when biking, skiing, or doing other activities that can lead to head injuries: Helmets are a way to help protect your head from injuries like cuts and skull fractures. Always wear a helmet when doing any sport or activity where there's a chance you might hit your head against something like a tree, the ground, or another person. Your friend is right: No helmet can prevent concussions. There's no way to keep the brain from moving inside the skull. If you hit your head hard enough, your brain can bang into the hard bone and cause a concussion. Some "special" sports helmets and other new products claim that they can protect you from concussions. But studies don't back up these claims. As long as a helmet is right for your sport, hasn't been damaged, and is approved by the sport's governing body, it really doesn't matter how much it costs or how fancy it is. Concussions aren't always preventable. But you can avoid other serious problems by taking care of yourself if you get one. If you take a hit to the head while playing sports, sit out the rest of the game and get advice from your doctor. Back to Articles Related Articles Dealing With Sports Injuries You practiced hard and made sure you wore protective gear, but you still got hurt. Read this article to find out how to take care of sports injuries - and how to avoid getting them. Read More Sports and Concussions As long as people play sports, there will be concussions from time to time. Find out how to protect yourself and what to do if you get a concussion playing sports. Read More Bike Safety The sun is shining - why not dust off your bike and go for a ride? Before you hit the trail, though, read these tips on the right type of bike and gear you will need. Read More What Happens If You Keep Playing Sports When You're Injured? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More ATV Safety ATVs provide off-road fun. But with the thrills come big risks like rollovers and collisions. Here are tips for teens on staying safe. Read More Safety Tips: Football Football is a lot of fun, but since the name of the game is to hit somebody, injuries are common. To keep things as safe as possible, follow these tips. Read More Safety Tips: Snowboarding Snowboarding is a great way to have fun, but it can also present some very real dangers. Follow these safety tips to learn how to stay safe on the slopes. Read More Safety Tips: Skateboarding Skateboarding is undeniably cool, but it's also easy to get hurt. Keep it safe while skateboarding with these safety tips. Read More Safety Tips: Skiing There's a lot to love about skiing, but it can also present some very real dangers. Follow these tips to stay safe on the slopes. Read More Safety Tips: Sledding Sledding is a lot of fun, but can also cause injuries, some of them pretty serious. To keep yourself safe while sledding, follow these safety tips. Read More Safety Tips: Wrestling In wrestling, injuries are bound to happen sometimes. To keep things as safe as possible, follow these tips. Read More Concussions How can you tell if you have a concussion? What should you do? And what's going to happen with sports and school? The facts are all on this site for teens. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.