Bicycles are a way of life for children. Bicycles are a source of enjoyment and entertainment for children; and they also provide them with exercise, a way to visit friends, and explore their environment. However, bikes can also be dangerous. In fact, more children ages 5 to 14 are taken to the emergency room for injuries sustained from bike accidents than any other sport. And the injuries can be serious or even fatal, especially if your child is not wearing a helmet. Below are some helmet safety tips for keeping your children safe on their bikes.
Always Wear a Helmet
There can be no doubt that our brains are one of if not the most important parts of our bodies. For children, a brain injury can greatly reduce a child’s ability to grow-up healthy and productive, cause paralysis and even death. For this reason, making your child wear a bike helmet is critical.
In the event of a biking accident, wearing a helmet reduces the risk of brain injury by as much as 85-88%. Unfortunately, only about 25% of children ages 5-14 wear bike helmets today. Many kids complain that “helmets aren’t cool,” or “their friends don’t wear one” – but this is obviously no excuse. Always ensure that you child wears a bike helmet when riding and that the helmet fits.
Make Sure it Fits!
It is not simply enough that your child wears a helmet, the helmet must fit properly. To ensure your child’s helmet fits correctly, here are three simple rules:
Eyes
If your child’s helmet is pushed-up too high it will not protect their head well in a bike accident. The helmet should sit level on your child’s head and rest low on the forehead, about one or two finger widths above the eyebrows.
Mouth
The buckled chin strap of the helmet should be loose enough that your child can breathe, but tight enough to stay snug in a crash or fall. There should be enough room so that you can put a finger between the helmet buckle and your child’s chin. And the helmet should be tight enough so that if your child opens their mouth, you can see the helmet pull down on top.
Ears
Make sure that the bike helmet straps are even, form a “Y” under each of your child’s earlobes, and lay flat against your child’s head.
Like a seatbelt in a car, a bike helmet can save your children from serious injuries and even death. Always make sure that your child wears a helmet. If you or your child was injured in a bike or auto accident, you need a qualified personal injury attorney to fight for your rights and get you the compensation you deserve. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Murphy & Garner, LLC are dedicated to you and your case. Call us today for a free consultation at 678-563-1584.
