First Aid

Bicycle Safety

The importance of bicycle helmets:

Bicycling is very popular -- in fact, it is estimated that 57 million Americans ride bikes of may different types. In order to have safe and enjoyable bicycling, cyclists of all ages should follow safe riding habits.

Children and adults should always wear helmets when riding bicycles. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (part of the Centers for Disease Control), bicycle helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent.

Among children, 75 percent of bicycle-related fatalities could have been prevented if all children on bicycles wore helmets. Some states have bicycle helmet legislation requiring helmets to be worn.

Each year, over 600,000 people are treated in emergency departments for bicycle-related injuries and 824 die from this type of injury.

Which helmet to purchase:

Helmets should be approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Snell Foundation, or the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
The helmet should fit comfortably and snugly. It should sit on your (or your child's) head in a level position and not rock from side to side.
The helmet should have a chin strap and buckle to keep the helmet in place.
The helmet should be made out of a hard outer shell and an absorbing liner at least one-half inch thick.

Many children (and adults) resist wearing a helmet. Point out that athletes wear helmets for their protection, and, for children, suggest ways the helmet could be decorated to personalize it. Start helmet use early, even for tricycles, set a good example for your children and over your helmet.

Protecting children and adults from bicycle injuries:

You cannot control a bicycle that is too large. You should be able to straddle the bike and stand with both feet flat on the ground.
Younger children may need to ride a bicycle with training wheels.
A child must be able to stop the bike by using the brakes.
Learn the proper hand signals for left turns, right turns, and stopping.
Make certain you understand and observe all traffic signals and signs.
Children should ride on sidewalks until they are at least 10 or 11 years old.
Look left, right, and left again, before riding into traffic from a sidewalk, driveway, or parking lot.
When riding on the street, children should be in a straight line near the curb, and be alert for car doors opening into traffic lanes.
Children should not ride a bike at dusk or at night - as this is when most fatal accidents occur. If a child is still outside when it turns dark, the bicycle light must be turned on and the child should be wearing light or reflective clothing.
Make certain the bike has safety reflectors. All bikes should have reflectors on the front, rear, and wheel spokes.

This page was last updated on: January 25, 2008.

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