Protect Your Active Family with Helmets

 Did you get a bicycle for Christmas, or maybe a scooter, skateboard or inline skates? If a helmet wasn't included with the gift, then make plans to purchase a properly fitting helmet before you take your next ride.

In 2009, nearly 230,000 children were treated in emergency rooms for cycle-related injuries. The single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes is a helmet. So, parents, please make it a rule: Every time you and your child ride a bike, wear a bicycle helmet that meets the safety standards developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

If your child is reluctant to wear a helmet, try letting him or her choose his own.

Helmet Fit Is Important

A helmet should sit on top of the head in a level position, and should not rock forward, backward or side to side. The helmet straps must always be buckled but not too tightly. Try the Eyes, Ears and Mouth Test:

EYES: Position the helmet on your head.  Look up and you should see the bottom rim of the helmet. The rim should be one to two finger-widths above the eyebrows.

EARS: Make sure the straps of the helmet form a "V" under your ears when buckled.  The strap should be snug but comfortable.

MOUTH:  Open your mouth as wide as you can.  Do you feel the helmet hug your head?  If not, tighten those straps and make sure the buckle is flat against your skin.

You may also want to check out the helmet fit test video on the Safe Kids USA website at:
http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/safety-resources-by-risk-area/bicycling-and-skating/helmet-fit-test-video.html

Use Different Helmets for Different Activities

Children should always wear a helmet for all wheeled sports activities. Non-motorized scooters cause the most injuries of any toy among children ages 14 and under, according to Safe Kids research.  And, in 2009, nearly 50,000 injuries were associated with skates. A properly-fitted bike helmet is just as effective when riding a scooter or while roller or inline skating.

However, when skateboarding and long boarding, make sure your child wears a skateboarding helmet.

Proper equipment fit and maintenance are also important for safety. Ensure proper bike fit by bringing the child along when shopping for a bike. Buy a bicycle that is the right size for the child, not one he will grow into. When sitting on the seat, the child’s feet should be able to touch the ground. Make sure the reflectors are secure, brakes work properly, gears shift smoothly and tires are tightly secured and properly inflated.

Safety First

Always model and teach proper behavior. Learn the rules of the road, and obey all traffic laws, including these:

•    Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, not against. Stay as far to the right as possible.

•    Use appropriate hand signals.•    Respect traffic signals, stopping at all stop signs and stop lights.

•    Stop and look left, right and left again before entering a street or crossing an intersection. Look back and yield to traffic coming from behind before turning left.

•    Adult supervision of child cyclists is essential until you are sure a child has good traffic skills and judgment.

•    Cycling should be restricted to sidewalks and paths, not main roads or streets, until age 10.

•    Children should be able to demonstrate riding competence and knowledge of the rules of the road before cycling with traffic.

•    Children should not ride a bicycle when it’s dark, in the fog or in other low-visibility conditions.

•    If riding at dusk, dawn or in the evening is unavoidable, use a light on the bike and make sure it has reflectors as well.

•    Wear clothes and accessories that have retro reflective materials to improve biker visibility to motorists.

A recent Safe Kids analysis of several helmet studies found that helmet use can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent and severe brain injury by 88 percent. Protect your family by wearing helmets.