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SEASONAL
TIPS - June Bicycle Safety
- The following information regarding sport and bicycle was referenced directly
from the Boston Globe Website:
- Use of this information is not a specific endorsement of any commercial item specifically by the Monmouth Junction School.
BICYCLE SAFETY
- A youngster's first bike is a source of joy. The childhood milestone of learning to ride - without parental help or training wheels - is a special pleasure of growing up. But among all the excitement and fun, there's a stark realization that each year 400,000 youngsters need medical treatment for bicycle-related injuries, and 300 die from those injuries.
- The good news is that deaths and the most serious injuries - those to the
head - can be prevented with something that doesn't cost much at all - a helmet.
And safety isn't expensive: approved helmets are available for as little as $10 - and well worth the price. - Insist children wear a helmet, preferably of their choosing. Look for an ANSI, ASTM or Snell sticker certification of safety standards. Beginning in February 1999, all bicycle helmets will be required to meet U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards. If you as an adult ride a bike, set an example by wearing your helmet.
- Make sure the helmet fits right - it should sit just above the eyebrows. Use the sizing pads for the best fit. Replace the helmet if it's been in a crash.
- Start early, teaching safety habits with the child's first bicycle or tricycle.
- Limit riding on the road to children 9 years of age or older - younger children are unable to handle the complex tasks of biking in congested areas.
- Get the right size bicycle. Don't get one to 'grow into.' A child should
be able to straddle the bike with both feet on the ground. Make sure they adhere
to the same laws as the other vehicle drivers:
- Ride on the right side of the road and obey all traffic signs.
- Insist they use the bicycle as it was intended to be used: Don't let them remove brakes or "ride double."
- Get reflective clothing or strips for cycling after dark. White or light clothing does not provide enough visibility.
- Use headlamps for more visibility.
- Ride after dark only when absolutely necessary.
- Encourage bicycle safety classes at local schools or youth groups.
Healthy and Happy Riding Season
Mrs. Kramer, RN
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