Corewell Health Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital Bike Safety User Manual
- June 8, 2024
- Corewell Health
Table of Contents
Corewell Health Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital Bike Safety
Product Information
Specifications
- Product: Bike Helmet
- Manufacturer: Not specified
- Recommended Age: Children above 1 year old
- Usage: For bike riding and other wheeled sports
Product Usage Instructions
Preparing for the Ride
- Before heading out for a ride, ensure that the helmet is properly fitted and secure on your child’s head. Make sure all straps are adjusted snugly but comfortably.
While Out Riding
- During the ride, ensure that your child wears the helmet at all times.
- Remind them of the importance of safety and following biking rules such as staying on designated paths and wearing appropriate gear.
How to Fit a Helmet
- To fit the helmet correctly, place it on your child’s head so it sits level and low on their forehead.
- The straps should form a “V” under their ears, and the chin strap should be snug but not too tight.
Other Wheeled Sports
- While this helmet is designed for biking, it can also be used for other wheeled sports like skateboarding or rollerblading.
- Ensure it is properly fitted and meets safety standards for each activity.
FAQ
- Q: Can this helmet be used for children under one-year-old?
- A: No, helmets or bike travel is not recommended for babies younger than one-year-old due to their weak neck structure.
- Q: How can I ensure my child wears the helmet regularly?
- A: Letting your child pick the helmet design or allowing them to decorate it can increase the likelihood of them wearing it every ride.
The facts
- A properly fitted helmet can reduce the risk of head injuries by at least 45 per cent, yet less than half of children 14 and under usually wear a bike helmet.
- Helmets can reduce the risk of severe brain injuries by 88 per cent.
- More children ages 5 to 14 are seen in emergency rooms for injuries related to biking than any other sport.
- Adolescents, teens, and young adults have the highest rates of bicycle-related injuries seen in United States Emergency Departments.
Preparing for the ride
- Wear bright-coloured clothing and use lights/reflectors to help be seen by drivers.
- Wear a helmet. It is the single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes.
- When choosing the right size bike for your child, make sure their feet can touch the ground when sitting on the seat.
- Check the bike chain, and be sure brakes are working properly, gears shift smoothly and tyres are secure and properly inflated.
While out riding
- Every child is different, but developmentally, it can be hard for kids to judge the speed and distance of cars until the age of 10. Until they are 10, limit riding to sidewalks, parks or bike paths.
- Ride with your children until you are confident, they can ride safely on their own.
- Adults should model and teach good biking behaviours.
- Ride on the sidewalk when you can. When riding on the road, ride in the same direction as traffic as far to the right as you can. No matter where you ride, teach your child to stay alert and watch for cars.
- When crossing the street, stop. Look left, right and left again before entering a street or crossing at an intersection. Teach your children to make eye contact with drivers, making sure drivers are going to stop before they cross the street.
- Encourage children to walk their bikes across the road if it is busy.
- Be aware of your surroundings and listen for traffic noise, such as a horn honking or moving cars.
- Learn and use hand signals and follow the rules of the road.
- Children should be able to demonstrate riding competence and knowledge of the rules of the road before riding in traffic.
How to fit a helmet
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies younger than one-year- old have a weak neck structure. Neither helmets nor bike travel is recommended for a child of this age.
- Size: The helmet should fit snugly. If the helmet has a dial, tighten it for a more secure fit.
- Position: The helmet should sit level on your head, no more than two fingers above the eyebrow.
- Side straps: Adjust the slider on both straps to form a “V” shape under, and slightly in front of, the ears.
- Chin strap: Buckle and tighten the chin strap until it is snug so that no more than two fingers fit under the strap.
- Double-check the fit: Ask your child to open his or her mouth wide to check if the helmet fits correctly. The helmet should be pulled down on the head.
Letting your child pick the helmet or allowing them to decorate it (to make it their own), will increase the likelihood your child will wear it every ride.
Other wheeled sports
- Children should always wear a helmet for all-wheeled sports activities.
- A properly fitted bike helmet is just as effective when riding a scooter, roller skating or rollerblading.
- When skateboarding or longboarding, make sure your child wears a CPSC-certified skateboarding helmet.
Contact us
- For more information, contact the Injury
- Prevention Program of Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital at Corewell Health Grand Rapids
- Hospitals: 616.391.SAFE (7233) or visit helendevoschildrens.org/injuryprevention.
X15269 (X15856 Spanish) © Corewell Health 01.2024 This handout does not take the place of a discussion with your healthcare team. Discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your healthcare team. Approved for distribution by the System Patient Education Council.
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