Helmet

A helmet (20) has attached to its lower rim (32) an inflatable bag (40) which normally is folded so as not to restrict normal head and neck movements of the wearer but on inflation will fill the gap between the helmet rim and shoulders of a wearer. Carried by the helmet (20) and preferably packed with the bag (40) is a package (44) including a conventional gas generator, igniter and battery. A switch (46) to operate the igniter is located on the crown area of the exterior surface of the helmet (20) and is closable on an impact with a predetermined force on the crown of the helmet (20). When closed the bag (40) is almost instantaneously inflated and fills the gap to transfer most if not all of the impact force to the shoulders and relieve the cervical spine of a damaging axial compressive force. In another version, shoulder pads (112) are provided in which there is an attachment in the form of an inflatable bag (114) on the inner rim encircling the neck of the wearer. The inflatable bag (114) inflates upon the impact upon the crown area of the exterior surface of the helmet to extend inwards, just enough to instantaneously broaden the foundation on which the helmet attachment can rest when deployed upon impact without harming the wearer's neck.