As he looks over towards his son Hunter, Rob Brayne says the $400 he recently spent on a MIPS helmet is the best investment he ever made.
Rob says the MIPS [ Multi-directional Impact Protection System] prevented Hunter from suffering a major and long-term injury after a mountain bike ride recently "went wrong".
The NSW South Coast resident is so grateful Hunter was wearing his MIPS helmet on the day in question.
Hunter was knocked out in his accident while undertaking "some jumps", but thanks to his trusty helmet did not suffer a concussion.
But he didn't escape unscathed, breaking two bones in his wrist and suffering fractures in his back as well.
Hunter says he was riding some jumps when the accident took place but does not remember much about the incident
"I was going at a pretty fast speed," Hunter said about the accident.
Hunter loves to ride his mountain bike but has not been on his bike since the accident.
"It [a MIPS helmet] allows the brain to move a fraction," Rob explained in regards to a MIPS.
Hunter was wearing a full-face MIPS helmet and Rob encourages other parents to buy MIPS helmets to protect their children.
"They are very similar to a motorbike helmet but a lot lighter," Rob said.
The accident happened six weeks ago and the 10-year-old Milton Public School student from Mollymook is recovering strongly.
He was in hospital for three days and ended up being flown up to the Sydney Children Hospital Randwick because of his spinal and back injuries.
"I am feeling much better now," Hunter said.
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Rob still shudders when he thinks about what could have happened to Hunter if he was not wearing his MIPS helmet
"If he was not wearing a MIPS helmet or a full-face helmet his injuries would have been a lot worse," he said.
"He would have had catastrophic injuries - the injuries would have been massive."
Hunter hopes to go on a mountain bike ride this weekend.
"One of the first things I will do is put on my helmet," he said.
Rob says there is a message here for other parents - "The main message I want to get across is not to skimp on a helmet," he said
"Pay a little bit extra for the MIPS because it will save your child's life.
"A $400 helmet is a small price to pay when it comes to preventing injuries.
"The helmet did its job and is worth every cent "
He said some helmets with MIPS start around the $125 price range.
Hunter's old helmet is now kept at the bike shop to show parents how it can save people from suffering traumatic injuries
Rob suggests parents go to the likes of Ulladulla's Ride South Coast and get advice from the experts.
"It's really important that the helmet fits properly as well," Rob added to explain why people should go to a bike shop operator.
Hunter's siblings Summer and Braxton now also have MIPS helmets and their mum Simone says children should be encouraged to wear helmets from an early age.
More details on MIPS
MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System, which is a leading slip-plane technology inside the helmet designed to reduce rotational forces that can result from certain impacts.
MIPS has been developed by leading brain surgeons and scientists to reduce the rotational forces on the brain caused by angled impacts to the head.
MIPS uses a slip-plane system that moves inside the helmet, mimicking the brain's own protection system.
This layer is designed to rotate inside the helmet with the intent to potentially slow or reduce the amount of energy transferred to or from the head. Science tells us that if we can reduce the strains associated with rotational acceleration, we might reduce the risk and severity of brain injury.
A MIPS-equipped helmet looks almost identical to a non-MIPS-equipped helmet except for when you look inside, you will see a thin yellow liner beneath the pads.
From the outside, the only indicator that the helmet is any different to one without MIPS is that some brands have a small yellow MIPS logo on there. You won't even feel a difference when wearing a MIPS-equipped helmet.
