| A helmet is a form of protective clothing worn on | | | | they were replaced by the new French Adrian |
| the head and usually made of metal or other hard | | | | helmet. It was soon followed by the adoption of |
| substance, such as Kevlar, resin fiber, or plastic | | | | similar steel helmets by the other warring nations. |
| typically for protection of the head in combat, or | | | | World War I and its increased use of heavy |
| in civilian life, from sports injuries, falling objects or | | | | artillery had renewed the need for steel helmets, |
| high-speed collisions. | | | | which were quickly introduced by all the |
| Helmets are common in the military, construction, | | | | combatant nations for their foot soldiers. In the |
| mining, and some sports, including american | | | | 20th century, such helmets offered protection for |
| football, baseball, ice hockey, equestrian sports, | | | | the head from shrapnel and spent, or glancing |
| motorsports, and rock climbing. Motorcycle | | | | bullets. |
| helmets and bicycle helmets are compulsory | | | | The use of protective helmets by millions of |
| headgear in some jurisdictions; in the United | | | | fighting men in the two world wars increased |
| Kingdom only Sikhs are allowed to ride | | | | awareness of "hard hat" protection. By the 1950s, |
| motorcycles without wearing motorcycle helmets. | | | | hundreds of new applications for helmets were |
| Bicycle helmet compulsion and even strong | | | | found. The helmet offered an unexpected |
| promotion has been a heated subject of debate | | | | advantage: Symbolism. It can signify that, like a |
| amongst cyclists and scientists since at least the | | | | soldier, the wearer is someone qualified for or |
| 1990's, lately focusing on alleged net protective | | | | capable of a certain task or activity, such as |
| effect at the population level. | | | | construction, operation of heavy machinery, or |
| Helmets were among the oldest forms of combat | | | | participation in certain sports. |
| protection, and are known to have been worn by | | | | Today's militaries often use high-quality helmets |
| ancient Greeks, Romans, throughout the Middle | | | | made of ballistic materials such as Kevlar, which |
| Ages, and up to the end of the 1600s by many | | | | have excellent bullet and fragmentation stopping |
| combatants. At that time, they were purely | | | | power. Some helmets also have good non-ballistic |
| military equipment, protecting the head from | | | | protective qualities, though many do not. |
| cutting blows with swords, flying arrows, and | | | | Non-ballistic injuries may be caused by many |
| low-velocity musketry. They were initially | | | | things, including (but not limited to) concussive |
| constructed from leather, and then bronze and | | | | shockwaves from explosions, motor vehicle |
| iron during the Bronze and Iron Ages, but soon | | | | accidents, or falls. |
| came to be made entirely from forged steel in | | | | Function and structure |
| many societies after about 950A.D. Military use of | | | | Despite various designs and requirements, helmets |
| helmets declined after 1670, and rifled firearms | | | | always protect the user's head through a |
| ended their use by foot soldiers after 1700. By | | | | mechanical energy-absorption process. Therefore, |
| the 18th century, cavalry units often wore steel | | | | their structure and protective capacity are altered |
| body cuirasses, and frequently metal skull | | | | in high-energy impacts. Beside their |
| protectors under their hats, called "secrets". The | | | | energy-absorption capability, their volume and |
| often-ridiculed Prussian spiked helmet, or | | | | weight are also important issues, since higher |
| Pickelhaube, saved many soldiers by diverting | | | | volume and weight increase the injury risk for the |
| sideways otherwise mortal sabre blows to the | | | | user's head and neck. |
| head. Its usefulness was ended by the increased | | | | Classical helmets from the ancient Greeks to |
| use of heavy artillery during World War I, | | | | today treat the head uniformly and are currently |
| replaced by the German steel helmet, or | | | | tested on rigid headforms. Anatomical helmets |
| Stahlhelm, and afterwards it was worn merely for | | | | adapted to the inner head structure were |
| tradition. | | | | invented by neurosurgeons at the end of the |
| The Napoleonic era saw ornate cavalry helmets | | | | 20th century. Since the materials are disposed |
| reintroduced for cuirassiers and dragoons in some | | | | according to the anatomical structure of the head, |
| armies; they continued to be used by French | | | | they are smaller and lighter than the classical |
| forces during World War I as late as 1915, when | | | | helmets. |