Safe Kids Worldwide has provided a FANTASTIC brochure about how to keep kids safe when riding bikes or having fun with other wheeled sports, such as skating or riding a scooter. You know we write about this kind of health advice quite often, but this brochure has detailed safety tips demonstrated with photos. One of the best safety pieces we’ve seen in a long time.
Here is a sample of some of the tips illustrated in the brochure:
- A helmet should be worn for ALL wheeled sports activities, including biking, riding on an ATV, skating, riding a scooter, skateboarding, and longboarding. Skateboarding and long boarding require a different, sport-specific helmet.
- Enforce the simple rule: “No helmet, no bike” (or skateboard, skates, etc.).
- Let your children help to pick out their helmets so that they will be more likely to wear them.
- Wear a helmet yourself…you’re the role model, and your kids are watching.
- A bike should be right-sized for your child…not something he or she needs to grow into.
- Help your child learn to check to make sure that the bike reflectors are secure, brakes work well, and tires are properly inflated.
- Take the Helmet Fit Test. (See the brochure for details.)
- Children should only ride on sidewalks or paths—not roads—until age 10.
For more information about child safety, visit the Safe Kids website at https://www.safekids.org.
