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Safety on Wheels
Riding bikes can give
kids a sense of independence and adventure, yet if
misused, bikes can be dangerous. Children often attempt
risky stunts and exhibit careless behavior, which
can result in tragedy especially if they fail
to take the necessary precaution of wearing a bike
helmet to protect them from head injuries.
Each year, more than
210 children ages 14 and under are killed and more
than 360,000 are injured in bicycle-related incidents.
Following are safe cycling guidelines recommended
by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign:
-
Purchase an approved bicycle helmet for each
child. Insist the helmet is worn correctly
every time the child goes for a ride. Helmets have
been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by
as much as 85 percent and brain injury by as much
as 88 percent. Only buy helmets that meet or exceed
safety standards developed by the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission, American National Standards
Institute (ANSI), American Society of Testing and
Materials (ASTM) or the Snell Memorial Foundation.
- Teach
children safe bicycling behaviors. Emphasize
the fact that a bicycle is a vehicle, not a toy.
More than 80 percent of bicycle-related fatalities
are associated with the childÕs behavior, including
riding into a street without stopping, turning left
or swerving into traffic that is coming from behind,
running a stop sign, and riding against the flow
of traffic. Check with local safety organizations
to find out about bicycle safety days and rodeos,
and have your child participate.
-
Make sure the child's bicycle works properly.
Are reflectors secure? Test the brakes. Can the
child completely grasp hand brakes? Does the bicycle
stop right away? Make sure gears shift smoothly
and tires are secured tightly and properly inflated.
- Familiarize
yourself with the child's bicycling environment.
Encourage the child to bike in safe environments,
such as those with bicycle paths.
- Have
your children wear bright colored clothing so drivers
can spot them more easily.

For
further information, please visit the National SAFE
KIDS Campaign's website at: http://www.safekids.org
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