I would never distribute used helmets! They're designed to be disposed of after they've been through a collision, and they're cheap enough that you can usually find someone to donate new ones for free (try your local hospital).
Here's why to destroy donated helmets:
- Crash damage may not be visible. It may be crushed foam inside, or
the shell may pop back out and hide the cavity where the foam is
crushed.
- The seller may have forgotten the crash, or been unaware
that they even hit their head. Or it may have occurred when the helmet
was on somebody else's head.
- The standards sticker inside may be worn off or otherwise be unreadable.
- If there is a pre-CPSC sticker for the ANSI, Snell or ASTM
standard it means the helmet was made before 1999. It may or may not
meet the current standard, but you know for sure that it is old.
- There might possibly be head lice nits in the helmet from
either the former wearer or someone else who just tried the helmet on at
the yard sale or thrift shop.
Angel York