Could you use some free SMARTRISK-branded mousepads? Any student, teacher, or regional partner is invited to send a note to noregrets@smartrisk.ca expressing your interest - hurry up before they are all given away!

SMARTRISK is honoured to have retired Canadian astronaut Dr. Dave Williams serving as an Ambassador to the organization!

As the first Canadian to have lived and worked both in space and in the ocean, as well as holding the current Canadian record for total extra-vehicular activity (space-walking), Dr. Williams shares our philosophy on managing risk. On a number of occasions, Dr. Williams has lent his time to speak at SMARTRISK functions on the theme of 'taking risks, not chances' in space.

Last month the SMARTRISK office in Toronto buzzed with excitement as we were lucky enough to spend the morning getting caught up with Dave. We got to hear some incredible stories from space and heard about some of the risks that he has had to manage on a day-to-day basis.

 

Did you know that the human skull is only one centimetre thick? Wearing a properly fitted bike helmet while cycling can cut the risk of serious head injury by up to 85%. Whether you have a short bike ride to school or you're eager to hit the trails in the mountains, keep the following helmet tips in mind when you are out riding this spring:

• Your helmet should be worn so that it sits horizontally on your head and not pushed back.
• The front of the helmet should sit just above your eyebrows with the Y-straps adjusted so that the joint of the Y is just below your earlobes.
• The chin strap should be adjusted so that when you shake your head in all directions you cannot hear or feel the helmet moving.
• Check the inside of your helmet for safety approval stickers from the CSA, Snell, ANSI, or another international safety standards organization that is recognized in Canada.
• Some adhesives can reduce the strength and protection of whatever your helmet is made of - if you're going to put stickers on make sure the material meets the approval of the helmet manufacturer. For more information, see Hockey Canada's policy on the Application of Stickers on Helmets. 
• Replace your helmet every 5 years or if it sustains any impact. Even if the helmet looks fine there may be damage to the interior core that will reduce its ability to protect you!

Fortunately, most Canadian provinces have mandatory bike helmet laws. Whether yours does or not, Wear the Gear and protect your brain every time you ride.