Did you know that about 300,000 kids go to the emergency room every year because of bike accidents? And about 10,000 kids every year have to stay in the hospital for a few days due to bicycle injuries. Some of these injuries are so serious that some children die every year.
As a single mom of two busy girls, I know how hard it is to enforce the “no bike without a bike helmet” rule. However, since your child could get a brain injury if they fall, it’s important to insist that they wear a helmet.
Here are some things you should know about bike helmets:
- The U.S. government has specific standards for bike helmets. Always look for one that has a sticker on it that says the bike helmet meets all of the government’s requirements.
- Insist your child wears their bike helmet all the time – even for short rides.
- It is very important that the bike helmet fit correctly. Never allow your child to wear a hat under the helmet. If you are unsure how to choose the proper sized bike helmet, ask someone at the bike store to fit it properly to your child’s head.
- If you can tap the front or back of the bike helmet and it moves (some children like to wear the helmet like a sombrero), it doesn’t fit correctly.
How do you get your child to wear their bike helmet? I’d love to hear from you?
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