Can A Helmet Keep You Safe In A Tornado? Here's What An ER Doctor Says.

This One Thing Could Save Your Life In A Tornado

Head injuries from flying debris are the No. 1 cause of death in a tornado.

But there is one step you can take to help keep yourself and your family safe.

“You definitely can lower your risk of these severe injuries by wearing a helmet,” emergency room physician Dr. Chris Davlantes told us in a recent interview. “It's one of these critical but very much overlooked safety features or measures that people don't think about.”

Davlantes is senior director of global medical and scientific affairs at Abbott Point of Care Diagnostics, and worked in emergency medicine for more than 25 years in Kansas, the second-most tornado-prone state in the country according to data from 2003 to 2022.

“The high winds can cause injuries from flying debris, collapsing structures or items being thrown by these winds,” he said. “We'll get anything from skull fractures to concussions, to even more severe brain injuries caused by penetrating injuries.”

When it comes to helmets, some might provide better protection than others. But Davlantes said the important thing is to wear one during a tornado warning.

Helmets aren’t a substitute for shelter, and if you get hit in the head during a storm you should still get checked by a doctor even if you are wearing one. Symptoms of a concussion include headache, nausea, vomiting, changes in vision and sensitivity to light or noise.

“Having helmets readily available should always be part of your tornado preparedness plan,” Davlantes said. “It’s important to educate your family about having that and not scrambling at the last minute.”

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Weather.com senior writer Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.