'Counting On' Fans Are Very Concerned for Joy-Anna Duggar's Safety in New Instagram

From Good Housekeeping

  • Counting On stars Joy-Anna Duaggar and her husband Austin Forsyth had people worried after posting an Instagram of the couple with their 1-year-old son, Gideon.

  • While Gideon is wearing a helmet, Joy-Anna and Austin didn't seem have one.


Counting On stars Joy-Anna Duggar and her husband Austin Forsyth recently made their fans upset after posting photos of themselves biking to get some food.

As Austin wrote in his caption for the Instagram photo carousel below, he, Joy-Anna, their 1-year-old son Gideon, Justin Duggar, and their friend Elijah Kaneshiro hopped on their bikes to pick up some ice cream treats from Sonic.

"Bike riding to Sonic!🥤🌭 This is my new fav family activity! 🚲 7 miles round trip and my legs feel like Jello,😋" Austin said.

While it's really great that the group was able to get out and enjoy a relaxing summer night, it doesn't look like any of them (besides Gideon) wore a helmet during their bike trip. Maybe they did and we just didn't see them – but either way, the photos made commenters uneasy.

Photo credit: Instagram
Photo credit: Instagram
Photo credit: Instagram
Photo credit: Instagram
Photo credit: Instagram
Photo credit: Instagram

"Please, please wear helmets though. I have more than one cyclist friend that has been saved by one," a concerned fan wrote in the comments section. "Don't risk your brain turning to jello too! ... bicycle helmets for EVERYONE!!!!," another pleaded.

While Joy-Anna and Austin have been subjected to all sorts of online criticism before – like, when they posted a photo from their date weekend on Gideon's first birthday (the nerve!) — these recent comments highlighting biking safety are definitely worth paying attention to.

"This is like wearing a seat belt in a car — an absolute must," Donald Jenkins, M.D., a trauma physician at Mayo Clinic advised. "Riders of all kinds can sustain serious injuries in an accident, but survival chances grow exponentially when a helmet is worn."

When it comes to choosing a helmet, Rachel Rothman, the Chief Technologist at the Good Housekeeping Institute, recommends following Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards and urges adults to "model safe behaviors and wear helmets when they are riding" at all times.

Follow the below guidelines to keep you and your kids safe:

  • Make sure the helmet is approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

  • Test that it fits just right: You shouldn't be able to move the helmet more than one inch in any direction. The neck strap should be sturdy and easy to adjust so it fits snuggly and can't slip off from underneath your chin.

  • In the store, try on the helmet before you purchase it to make sure you have clear visibility on all sides.

  • Avoid anything on the outside of the helmet that could possibly snag onto something when you crash; the exterior of a good helmet should be round and smooth.

  • Choose one in a bright color that will help you to be visible at any time of day.

  • Do not use a hand-me-down as it may have fractures or the foam may have been impacted in a way that is not visible. It also may not be up to current standards.

  • Replace any helmet that has been in a crash or is damaged.


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