subject: Dr. George Tashjian Posts People About Bicycle Safety Tips [print this page] Dr. George Tashjian Posts People About Bicycle Safety Tips
Bicycle helmets save lives and reduce the risk of minor, serious, or severe personal injuries to children. Every year 350,000 children visit the emergency room due to bicycle-related injuries. Out of those 350,000 visits, 130 children child sustain head injuries and approximately 200 children die. Wearing a helmet can decrease a child's likelihood of sustaining injuries by as much as 85%. Dr. George Tashjian
It is important to purchase your child a helmet that fits him or her appropriately and is up to date with the current industry standards. Good bicycle stores will help with fitting and suit of the helmet. Both aspects are very important for child safety. Because a child's head develops slower than his or her lower limbs and feet, it may not be necessary to purchase a new helmet every year. In fact, most helmets have removable padding to adjust to your child's growth. The key issue to remember here is that although not all helmets are the same. Wearing a helmet is better than wearing nothing at all.
However, there are some items that all helmets should have. First, your child's helmet should have a rear stabilizer - this cradles the back of your child's head and assists the helmet in staying in the appropriate position. The helmet should come with chin straps and should fit snuggly so as not to move from side-to-side. As a general rule, if your child can fit two fingers between the helmet and his or her temple, the helmet is too big. If you would like to read more on this topic please see Helmets are crucial for protecting your child from sustaining bicycle-related personal injuries.
Parents and guardians should stress the importance of helmet safety. If your child has reservations about wearing a helmet because he or she thinks it is not cool to wear a helmet, let your child pick out his or her own helmet. Just make sure the fit and other safety aspects are not compromised, says Dr. George Tashjian
Some other tips on helmet use are:
Replace helmets if your child is in a crash or if the helmet is damaged.
Kids should only wear their helmets for biking.
Let your child pick out his own helmet so he's more likely to wear it.
If you bike with your kids, show them helmets are cool by wearing one too.
Proper Bicycle Fit and Maintenance
Kids can be hurt if their bike is too big or small, or if it's not well-maintained. Have your child stand over his bicycle. There should be a 1-2 inch gap between the top bar and your child. The bike's seat should be level, and be at a height that your child's knees are slightly bent when the pedal is at its lowest point. Finally, the handlebars should be level with the seat.
On a regular basis, check your kid's bike to be sure the tires are properly inflated, the brakes functioning, and the chain tight and oiled. His bike should also have reflectors so he's visible to drivers.
Appropriate Bike Clothing
The safest bet is for your child not to ride in bad weather, at dusk, or in the dark. If your child must ride in these conditions, instruct him to wear fluorescent colors, reflective tape, and flashing lights.
Your child should also always wear sneakers when biking and avoid loose-fitting pants, which can get caught in the bike chain, as can the straps of bags and backpacks.
Where and How to Bike Safely
Dr. George Tashjian Says, kids need to watch out for road hazards such as potholes, gravel, and, most importantly, cars. Kids under 10 are safest riding on the sidewalk, if it's allowed in your area. Older kids need to know the rules of the road for biking:
Ride with the flow of traffic.
Follow the same traffic laws as cars.
Use hand signals when moving in and out of traffic, and when turning.
Don't wear headphones or talk on a cell phone when biking.
Yield to cars and pedestrians.
Bikes are a great way for kids to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors, but they need some guidance from parents on how to be safe when riding. Following these tips can help your child avoid injuries. Reposted By Pediatrician Dr. George Tashjian
