Strapped for Safety

In warm weather, many parents would be hard pressed to keep their kids off a bike. Biking is a great way to exercise and have fun at the same time. But, don't let your child's favorite pastime put them in danger: insist they wear a bicycle helmet.

Here are some helmet tips to maximize safety:

• Position
  Put the helmet on the head so its sits evenly between the ears and rests low on the forehead. It should only be about 1 to 2 finger widths above the child's eyebrows.
• Pads
  The helmet should fit snugly on the head—it should not wobble. If it does, put foam pads inside the helmet so it feels comfortable but snug.
• Straps
  Tighten the chin strap as snugly as possible. Adjust the junction of the front and back straps just under the ears and secure the back strap without putting pressure on the front strap.

The Injury Prevention Center at Rhode Island Hospital offers bicycle helmets to any child (and his or her siblings) brought into the Hasbro Children's Hospital due to a bike, roller blade, skateboard or scooter injury. They also offer tips on how to properly fit a bike helmet:

• English
• Spanish

More articles  |