Younger children may need to ride a bicycle with training wheels.Ī child must be able to stop the bike by using the brakes. You should be able to straddle the bike and stand with both feet flat on the ground. You can't control a bicycle that is too large. Suggestions for preventing bicycle injuries: Protecting Children and Adults from Bicycle Injuries Point out that athletes wear helmets for their protection, and, for children, suggest ways the helmet could be decorated to personalize it. Many children (and adults) resist wearing a helmet. The helmet should be made out of a hard outer shell and an absorbing liner at least one-half inch thick. The helmet should have a chin strap and buckle to keep the helmet in place. It should sit on your (or your child's) head in a level position and not rock from side to side. The helmet should fit comfortably and snugly. Helmets should be approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Snell Foundation, or the American Society for Testing and Materials. Here are suggestions for purchasing a helmet: There has been a 54 percent reduction in the number of bike-related deaths since 1999. Children and adults should always wear helmets when riding bicycles:Īccording to SAFE KIDS, bicycle helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent. To participate in safe and enjoyable bicycling, cyclists of all ages should follow safe riding habits.

The Importance of Helmetsīicycling is very popular-in fact, it is estimated that 80 million Americans ride bikes of many different types. Teaching your children bicycle, in-line skating, and skateboarding safety could save lives. A properly-fastened and fitting helmet does not move around on the head. Helmets should fit properly on your child's head and also be fastened correctly. Wearing a helmet whenever riding a bicycle, in-line skates, or a skateboard should be an automatic habit. However, even with aggressive bicycle helmet programs and laws, approximately 55 percent of children don't always wear a helmet while bicycling.

Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of death or injury and reduce the severity of the injury in the event of a crash. Head injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in these types of crashes. Head trauma is the most common injury in accidents involving bikes, in-line skates, skateboards and scooters. Next to motor vehicle-related injuries, bicycles injure more children than any other consumer product, according to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. Although a great form of exercise, riding a bike, in-line skating, or skateboarding without protective gear can be dangerous. In-line skating and skateboarding are also very popular among this age group. Over 70 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 14 ride bicycles. Safety Statistics for Bicycles, In-line Skating, Skateboards, and Scooters

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