|
| |
It's
bike season!
Protect that Melon: Wear Your Bike Helmet
It’s that time of year
again. Time to dig out that bicycle, get outside and have fun!
Here are some points to consider when
purchasing or fitting a bike helmet on a child:
- The helmet should sit on the child's head so that the front rim is
just above the eyebrows. If the helmet rests on the back of the head, the
forehead, nose and chin will be exposed.
- Before buckling the chin strap, have children shake their head from
side to side. The helmet should generally stay put. If it moves excessively,
it's too big and won't protect the head no matter how tight the chin strap
is pulled.
- When the chin strap is buckled, children should be able to open
their mouth and feel the helmet press firmly against the top of their head.
- Buy a new helmet. Helmets that have suffered even a single fall or
have been exposed to heat for a long time (i.e., kept in the trunk of a car)
lose the cohesion that keeps the helmet intact during impact.
- Don't forget to set
an example by wearing a helmet yourself!
Still on the fence about
wearing a helmet? Consider this, in 2007 more than 236,000 children ages 14 and
under received bicycle-related injuries.
·
Head injury is the
leading cause of death in adult and children bicycle crashes.
·
Helmets have been shown in studies
to reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent and the risk of brain injury by
90 percent.
·
Nationally, only 15 percent of
children bicyclists used bicycle helmets.
Stay Safe:
-
Wear light colors and reflective strips if
you are riding or walking after dusk.
-
Have reflectors installed on your bicycle.
-
Use a headlamp when riding at night.
-
Always ride in the same direction as the
cars.
- If you are with
others, ride single file, not side by side.
|
