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June 1, 2007
Bike Helmet Safety
Head injuries continue to be the leading cause of injury-related deaths among children. Making sure a child is always wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent.
It is important to make sure the helmet you buy has been approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Before March 1999, recommended helmets were approved by either ANSI, ASTM or the Snell Foundation. Older helmets approved by one of these groups are still safe to use. Here are some basics to keep in mind when it comes to bike helmet safety.
For parents:
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When you buy your child’s first bike buy them a helmet, too. Let your child choose his or her own helmet. There are lots of styles and colors to choose from. Or, let your child personalize the helmet by using stickers or paint to decorate it. |
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Make sure wearing a helmet is a rule you enforce. |
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Be a role model by always wearing a helmet when you ride a bike. |
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Praise your child and others for wearing their helmets. |
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Help your child realize the head is the most important part of the body. |
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Help your child’s school establish and support the rule: “If you ride your bike to school, you must wear a helmet.” |
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Make sure the helmet fits properly. If the helmet is too loose, it is not protecting your child’s head. |
| For kids: |
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Do the ”Eyes, Ears and Mouth” check: |
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Eyes check: Put the helmet on your head. When you look up, you should see the bottom rim of the helmet (one to two fingers above the eyebrows). |
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Ears check: Make sure the straps of the helmet form a “V” under the ears when buckled. The strap should be snug but comfortable. |
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Mouth check: Open your mouth as wide as you can. The helmet should hug your head. If it’s not, tighten the straps. |
These important child safety tips are made possible by the Women’s & Children’s Center at Marquette General Hospital and by the Kohl’s Cares for Kids® Safe & Healthy Families Campaign. For more information, visit www.BlueKids.org.
The Women’s and Children’s Center at Marquette General is the recipient of funds raised from the sale of Kohl’s Cares for Kids plush toys and books. Funds are used to enhance health and safety for kids throughout the Upper Peninsula.
Kohl’s Healthy Kids
A monthly positive parenting column from the experts at Marquette General’s Women’s & Children’s Center. Made possible by Kohl’s Department Stores and in conjunction with the Kohl’s Care for Kids Safe and Healthy Families Campaign.
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