Get into the helmet habit. All bikers should wear helmets on all bike rides. Moms and dads should wear helmets. Kids on tricycles should wear helmets. Even if the bike ride is just down the driveway, your child should wear a helmet. Be consistent. Don't allow your child to ride without a helmet. Decorating a helmet with decals may make it easier to get your child's cooperation. No helmet – no bike. Get into the helmet habit. No exceptions! No excuses! No regrets!

The Size of the Problem Nationwide

• In 1998, more than 200 children ages 14 and under died in bicycle-related crashes and more than 350,000 children age 14 and under were injured.
• Motor vehicles are involved in 90 percent of all bicycle-related deaths and 10 percent of all bicycle-related injuries.
• Nearly 60 percent of bicycle-related deaths occur on minor roads, usually within one mile of home. Bicycle injuries are four times more common in non-daylight hours.
• Bicycle helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent. It is estimated that 75 percent of bicycle-related deaths among children could be prevented by proper use of a bicycle helmet.

Source: National SAFE KIDS Campaign

Safety Habits: Biking Safety

Restrict biking to sidewalks or bike paths until age 10 or until your child demonstrates the skill and judgement to be safe in traffic.

To protect your child from injuries, be sure your child:

• wears a bike helmet approved by the CPSC. Helmets made before March 1999 must be approved by either Snell, ANSI or ASTM and will only be available until March 2002.*
• has a helmet that fits snugly, covers the top part of the forehead and does not slide.
• has a bike that is the right size, in good repair, and is equipped with a light or front reflector, rear reflector and horn.
• knows and uses hand signals for turning left and right and stopping.
• rides on the right side of the road, with traffic.
• obeys traffic signs and signals and knows to stop and look left-right-left before entering an intersection or street, whether or not there is a stop sign.
• wears brightly colored clothing, has shoelaces securely tied, and avoids clothing that could get caught in bike wheels.
• does not ride at night or in bad weather.
• never bikes while wearing headphones.
• never rides double.
• always has at least one hand on the handlebars.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics and National SAFE KIDS Campaign *CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission), Snell (Snell Memorial Foundation), ANSI (American National Standards Institute), ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)

Useful Info: Bicycle Safety and the Child with Special Needs

If your child is not able to use a conventional bike, the Community Education Department at Riley Hospital for Children would be glad to provide you with information about adapted bikes. For more information, visit the Professional's Area under Safety Smart at rileychildrenshospital.com/kids1st or call 317-274-2964.