Bicycle helmets have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of head and brain injury. In fact, it is estimated that as many as seven out of every eight bicycle related fatalities among children could have been prevented with a bicycle helmet.

• In 1998, 203 children ages 14 and under died in bicycle-related crashes. An estimated 140,000 children are treated each year in emergency rooms for head injuries sustained while bicycling.
• In 1998, 726 children ages 14 and under died from pedestrian injuries. Of these, 576 died in motor vehicle-related incidents and the remaining 150 died in non-traffic related incidents.
• In 1997, 52 children died from pedestrian injuries; an additional 3,200 were treated for pedestrian injuries.

Helmet should be worn every time you ride a bike, scooter, skateboard or in-line skate. It is also important to wear the appropriate helmet when skiing or snowboarding.

• The helmet should fit comfortably and not be able to move when you jerk your head from side to side.
• It should sit parallel to the ground, not tilted back, with about an inch (two fingers) between your eyebrows and the lower edge of the helmet.
• Make sure the helmet straps are always buckled. The straps should fit snugly, but not too tightly. The sliding clasp on each side of the head should be situated just below the ears. You should be able to put a finger under the closed strap against your neck.
• Getting the fit "just right" is a matter of trial and error, using the pads provided by the manufacturer and the strap adjustments. Try several helmets in the store; not all helmet styles will fit all heads equally well.

Safety Tips

• Talk About Bike Safety Rules
  Everyone should always wear a bicycle helmet. Young riders should ride on sidewalks or safe areas only. Teens may ride in the street after they learn the rules of the road. In either case, make sure your children know what areas you permit them to ride their bikes.

For young children:

• Never ride at dusk or at night.
• When entering a sidewalk, path or driveway, stop completely. Look left, right and left again.
• Walk, don't ride your bicycle across the street.
• Cross only at the street corner, not mid-block.

For teens and adults:

• When riding in the street, obey all traffic signals and laws.
• Ride with the traffic flow, not against it.
• Always stop at stop signs and stop lights.
• Use the correct hand signals when turning to let drivers know your intent.

• Practice Makes Perfect
  Practice bike safety in your driveway by creating safety scenarios for your children. Set the scene by drawing a street and crosswalks with chalk. Create props for stop signs, motor vehicles and other "obstacles" your children might face while riding their bikes on a real street.
• Have your children practice stopping at stop signs and using hand signals when turning.
• Ask them to cross the "street." When crossing, make sure they walk, not ride, their bikes.

• Pick a Cool Destination and Plan Safe Routes
  Make sure to choose a safe area for bike riders, like parks or bike paths.

• HAVE FUN!

National Fire Protection Association