National Bike Safety Month

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May is the perfect time for enjoying the outdoors and bike riding with your family. Riding a bike is a great way to get kids outside and encourage them to stay active, but without precautions in place, it can be a cause of serious injury.

Did you know that every two minutes, a child is treated in an emergency room for an unintentional biking related injury? Wearing a helmet is the single most effective method of preventing injury, as they can reduce the risk of injury by as much as 88 percent. May is National Bicycle Safety Month, so review the following safety tips to ensure your child stays safe.

Find the Right Fit

• Make sure your child’s helmet meets the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s standards.
• A helmet should sit on top of the head in level position, should not rock forward, backward, or side to side.
• Helmet straps must always be buckled, but not too tightly.
• When the helmet is positioned on your child’s head, the rim should be one to two finger-widths above the eyebrows.
• The straps should form a “V” under the ears when buckled.
• A helmet should hug the head when the mouth is opened wide.

Utilize Proper Equipment and Keep Up With Maintenance

• Select a bicycle for your child that fits him or her; you child’s feet should comfortably touch the ground when sitting on the seat.
• Before riding, make sure the tires are properly inflated.
• Make sure that the brakes work, gears shift, and the reflectors are secure for all bike rides
• Long or loose clothing can easily become caught in bike chains, so dress your child appropriately for a safe ride.

Be Aware of Hazardous Road Conditions

• Do not ride at night if possible.
• If riding during dusk, dawn, or at night, make sure to have working reflectors on the bike and wear bright clothing to ensure you are visible to other people and vehicles on the road.
• Ride just far enough from the curb to stay away from cars that may be pulling out.
• Stay clear of potholes, cracks in the road, slippery surfaces, or anything else that makes it easy to lose control of a bike.

Learn how to fit your child’s bike helmet in three easy steps. EYES. EARS. MOUTH.