Kids have been sidelined from a lot of their daily activities by the Coronavirus. But one thing that is still on the “can do” list is bike riding. It’s a great way to get fresh air and exercise, and it’s easier to keep a safe distance from others on a bike than in many other sports. The most important way to keep your child safe on their bike is by wearing a properly fitted helmet every time they get on a bike.
Every year 350,000 children under the age of 15 are seen in hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers with injuries from bicycle accidents. About one-third of those visits involve head injuries. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), you can reduce your child’s risk of a serious injury by 85% by requiring them to wear a helmet every time they ride.
SAFETY STANDARDS
All bike helmets have to meet uniform safety standards issued by the CPSC, so the brand isn’t as important as the fit. It’s essential that the helmet fits correctly and that your child knows how to correctly put it on. Helmets should never be purchased to “grow into,” and the child should be present when you are buying it so they can try several different sizes and styles to find the right fit for them.
The helmet should sit on the top in a level position and should not rock forward or backward or side to side. The helmet should sit level on the head and low on the forehead— one or two finger-widths above the eyebrows. The helmet should be snug but not tight. The helmet straps must always be buckled, but not too tightly.
If your child is between two sizes, choose the bigger one. Most helmets come with extra pads to help you get a good fit. Also, some helmets have a mechanism on the back of the helmet to tighten or loosen it once it’s on.
BUILD GOOD HABITS
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention only 15 percent of kids use a helmet most or all of the time when riding bikes. The easiest way to be sure that your child always wears a helmet is to make it a hard and fast rule from the day they first get on a bike: no helmet, no riding. Do not allow exceptions and be sure you’re modeling safe behavior by wearing one every time you ride. Also, any child riding in a carrier on your bike or being towed in trailer should be wearing a helmet.
While your child should always have the helmet on when riding, they should always take the helmet off before playing at the playground or climbing on trees. The straps can get caught and prevent your child from breathing.
KNOW WHEN TO REPLACE
Replace your helmet when it has been in a crash; damage is not always visible.
For more information on bicycle safety, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/bicycles.