Safe Kids Week May 4 to 10
May 4, 2015
York.ca - Health News
Head injuries are the number one cause of serious injury and death to children on bicycles.
To prevent cycling injuries:
Protect your head, wear a helmet. Cyclists under the age of 18 are required by law to wear a helmet. A properly fitted and worn helmet can cut the risk of serious head injury by up to 80 per cent. Follow the 2V1 Shake Shake Shake Rule for the right fit!
Check your ride. Ensure bikes are adjusted to the recommended height for the rider, tires are inflated and brakes are working correctly.
Be prepared. Get trained in bicycle safety and the rules of the road, use appropriate hand signals and obey all traffic signs.
Pick family friendly routes. Use designated areas for riding
Ride in a well-lit area. Be sure that your bike has a white light mounted on the front, a red reflector or light on the back at night, white reflective tape on the front forks and red reflective tape on the rear stays.
Pick the right side of the road. Ride in the same direction as traffic and stay as far right as possible.
Use your bell. Announce when you are passing.
Parents – be great role models. 98 per cent of children will wear their helmets if their parents do, so wear one every time you ride!
Now in its 19th year, Parachute’s Safe Kids Week, an annual public awareness campaign, will be held May 4 to 10.
York Region supports Parachute’s Safe Kids Week and will be running a Safe Cycling Campaign from May 14 to the end of June (Bike Month). York Region Public Health’s Injury Prevention Program will be at the Family Fun Day on May 23 with bike/helmet safety resources and to demonstrate proper bike helmet fitting.
For more information, contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653, TTY 1-866-252-9933 or visit www.york.ca/injuryprevention