The following is from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website. As a parent with a young child, I found this information useful. Prevention is the best medicine! ~ Pam :)
Click here: Transportation Safety Tips for Children - Tip 7
Click here: Transportation Safety Tips for Children - Tip 8
TIP #7: PLAY IT SAFE: WALKING AND BIKING SAFELY
Children hit by cars can be hurt or killed, even when cars are moving slowly. Toddlers (1 and 2 year olds) are most often hurt by a backing vehicle. If a child is playing in a driveway or parking area (A), a driver may not see her/him. Preschoolers (3 and 4 year olds) are most often hit when running across a street near home.
Falls from tricycles or other play vehicles can cause serious head and brain injury. These injuries to young children can be as serious as injuries to older children falling from bikes.
DANGERS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN ON THE MOVE:
- darting out into traffic from the middle of the block;
- playing in or near the street; and
- riding a tricycle or bike in a parking lot, driveway, or street.
YOUNG CHILDREN ARE NOT SMALL ADULTS!
- They cannot judge speed or distance of vehicles moving toward them.
- They move quickly and can run into the street without warning.
- They don't know safety rules and expect adults to watch out for them.
- They are small and hard for drivers to see.
TAKE THESE STEPS TO SAFETY:
Hold your child’s hand so she/he doesn’trun into the street.
Parks and playgrounds are safe places to play away from traffic.
- Supervise, supervise, supervise
Parents and caregivers must watch toddlers and preschoolers closely when they are near parked or moving vehicles. To supervise properly, you must be near your child at all times, not watching from a distance. Hold your child's hand when you walk together along the street (B).
- Get them in the habit
When walking, talk to your child about street safety. Show him/her how to stop at the edge of the street and look for cars. Don't expect your young child to do this by herself/himself. Start children wearing helmets with their first tricycles or play vehicles. When children begin helmet use early, they are more likely to keep the habit in later years. Make a rule: No helmets, no bike.
- Set a safe example
Young children learn by watching adults. Show them safe ways to cross streets and always wear a helmet when you ride a bike.
- Find safe places to play
Keep children away from traffic (C). Fenced yards, parks, or playgrounds are good places for your child to ride and play.
Are there safe play places for children in your neighborhood? If not, talk with neighbors, police, and community planners about ways to improve the area.
HEAD OUT SAFELY!
Start helmet use early; even when riding a tricycle or play vehicle.
Only children over age 1 have the neck strength to wear helmets and ride on the back of bikes.
- Wearing a bike helmet is the most important way for your child to stay safe on a play vehicle, tricycle, or bike. A helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent when worn correctly.
- Toddler helmets are lightweight, because a toddler's neck is not strong enough for a regular helmet. Also, these helmets come down low around the back of the head for more coverage (D).
- Insist that your child wear a helmet whenever he/she rides. If your child's preschool uses tricycles, work with the school to make helmets available. Urge the school to have a policy requiring helmet use.
- Every new helmet must meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Standard and display a label stating that it meets the standard. On older helmets, look for a CPSC, ASTM1 , ANSI2 , or Snell3 sticker inside the helmet.
THE RIGHT FIT IS IMPORTANT!
- Make sure the helmet covers the upper part of the forehead and sits level on the head (two finger widths above the eyebrows). (E)
- Use the foam pads inside to fit the helmet snugly so it doesn't slip around.
- Adjust the chin strap tightly enough so the helmet pulls down when the child opens his mouth.
- Adjust the two side straps so they meet in a 'V' right under each ear.
CARRYING YOUR CHILD SAFELY ON A BIKE (F):
- NEVER carry a baby under age 1 on a bicycle. A baby does not have the neck strength to wear a helmet. The baby's back is not strong enough to sit straight with the motion of the bike.
- When a child is old enough to ride on an adult's bike, only a skilled rider should carry him/her.
- Ride only in safe areas like parks, bike paths, or quiet streets.
- Make sure both adult and child are wearing properly fitting helmets.
- Make sure the childcarrier has a high back, a lap and shoulder harness, and foot guards to keep feet away from the spokes.
- Make sure the bike trailer has a high-back seat and a lap and shoulder harness.
- Check that the carrier or trailer is fastened firmly to the bike.
- Buckle the harness snugly around the child.
1American Society for Testing and Materials
2American National Standards Institute
3Snell Memorial Foundation
(1-888-327-4236) or www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Illustrations from Indiana University School of Medicine
TIP #8: KIDS ON THE MOVE: WALKING AND BIKING SAFELY
LEARNING TO BE TRAFFIC SMART
Children in kindergarten through third grades (5 to 10 years old) are learning to become independent. They enjoy walking, riding bikes, and playing outside. They don't have the judgment to cope with traffic by themselves yet, but they can begin to understand safety rules.
WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW:
- Parents often think their children are able to handle traffic safely by themselves before they are actually ready.
- Children don't have the skills to handle these risky situations until about age 10.
- Boys are much more likely than girls to be injured or killed in traffic, on average boys take more risks.
- Bicycles are vehicles. Children should not ride bikes in the road until they fully understand traffic rules and show they can follow them.
- Children often act before thinking and may not do what parents or drivers expect.
- Children assume that if they see the driver, the driver sees them.
- Children can't judge speed and they think cars can stop instantly.
- Children are shorter than adults and can't see over cars, bushes, and other objects.
WALKING RISKS
Many children are hit by cars
when running into the street.
Hold your child’s hand so she/he doesn’t run into the street.
Nearly one-third of the 5 to 9 year old children killed by motor vehicles are onfoot. They are hit by cars most often when playing near home. They tend to run into the street in the middle of the block, where drivers don't expect them (A).
BICYCLING RISKS
Children can be hurt riding on or off the road. Most children who are killed in bike crashes are 7 to 12 years old. The most serious injuries children get while biking are head and brain injuries. These injuries can cause death or lifelong disability.
TAKE THESE STEPS TO SAFETY:
- Set limits for your child
As your children grow, set appropriate limits on where they can walk or bike safely. Don't expect them to be responsible or to start to behave safely until about age 10.
- Teach safe walking habits
Begin to teach your child how to cross streets safely (click here). Give them plenty of chances to practice when you are with them (B).
- Find safe places for bicycling and walking
Find places away from streets, driveways, and parking lots. Good choices are fenced yards, parks, trails/paths, or playgrounds.
- Set an example yourself
Young children learnby watching their parents and other adults. Cross streets properly and always wear a helmet when you ride a bike (C). When you are driving, obey speed limits, wear your safety belt and watch for children. Allow your children the opportunity to practice safe walking and riding when you are with them.
TEACH THE "SAFE STREET CROSSING" METHOD. TEACH YOUR CHILD TO:
- Cross with an adult or older friend. (Young children still need supervision around traffic up to about age 10).
- Cross at an intersection where there are signals.
Show older children how to look bothways and around parked cars orobjects blocking his/her view.
A child should be able to have his/her feet flat on the ground when sitting on the bike seat.
Correct helmet fit is very important!
- Use the crosswalk when crossing near a corner. Watch for turning vehicles.
- Stop at the curb. Look left, right, left, and over your shoulder for traffic. Continue to look as you cross the street.
- Stop to look around parked cars or other objects that block the view of traffic (D). Let oncoming traffic pass, then look again before crossing. as you cross.
- Make eye contact with drivers to make sure they see you.
HELP YOUR CHILD BIKE SAFELY:
- A kid-size bike is right
A big bike "to grow into" is not easy to learn on or to ride safely. A child should be able to sit on the seat with knees straight and feet flat on the ground (E). Also make sure the child can straddle the bike with at least one or two inches between the top bar and the child's crotch.
- Insist on bike helmet use
A brain injury cannot be cured! Bike helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent when worn correctly. Make it clear to your child that she/he must wear a helmet on every ride. It also is important to wear a helmet when doing other sports, like in-line skating and skateboarding.
SELECTING AND FITTING A BIKE HELMET
- Every new helmet must meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Standard and display a label stating that it meets the standard. On older helmets, look for a CPSC , ASTM1, ANSI2, or Snell3 sticker inside the helmet.
- Use foam pads inside to fit the helmet snugly so it doesn't move on the head.
- Fit the helmet so the front is two finger widths above the eyebrows. Teach your child to wear their helmet the correct way (F).
- Adjust the two side straps so they meet in a "V" right under each ear.
- Adjust the chin strap snugly under the chin. Make it tight enough so the helmet pulls down when the child opens his mouth.
- Check often to make sure straps stay snug and the helmet stays level on the head.
ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO WEAR HIS/HER HELMET
- Let your child help choose the helmet.
- Explain that a helmet is "just part of the gear," as it is with football, race car driving, or hockey.
- Praise your child for wearing his/her helmet.
- Talk to other parents, so that all neighborhood families encourage the same safety rules.
- Be a role model and wear your bike helmet.
1American Society for Testing and Materials
2American National Standards Institute
3Snell Memorial Foundation
(1-888-327-4236) or www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Illustrations from Indiana University School of Medicine
No comments:
Post a Comment