Bike helmets prevent injury

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Tribune Staff Report

Each year, about 168 Kansas children from birth to 14 years of age are killed or injured as a result of bicycle crashes in traffic, according to a statement from Safe Kids Kansas.

About half of those children, or 45 percent, have traumatic brain injuries. Properly fitted bike helmets can reduce the risk of bike-related brain injuries by 88 percent; however, only 15 to 25 percent of cyclists 14 years of age and younger usually wear a helmet, the statement said.

The organization is just one of many across the country celebrating National Bike Month in May, the statement said.

"A bike helmet is essential safety gear," Safe Kids Kansas Coordinator Jan Stegelman said. "Safe Kids Kansas is proud to have led the way in providing bike helmets to Kansas children in the last 10 years. Since the inception of our Safe Kids Cycle Smart program, over 100,000 low-cost and free bike helmets have been distributed as a part of local bike safety programs throughout the state. The program has been credited with 10 lives saved."

Community groups that would like to provide helmets as part of a bike safety program may contact the Safe Kids Kansas organization at (785) 296- 0351.

Motor vehicles are involved in about 90 percent of fatal bike crashes, and about 60 percent of bike-versus-auto child fatalities occur on residential streets.

"Teach kids to obey traffic signs and the rules of the road," Stegelman said. "Kids should not ride without supervision until they have demonstrated that they know and always follow the rules."

A helmet should be labeled to indicate that it meets the standards set by the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The helmet should be certified and brand new, Stegelman added.

"Let kids pick out their own helmets," she said. "If they think a helmet looks cool, they'll be more likely to wear it when you're not around."

Safe Kids Kansas also reminds parents and caregivers to follow these safety tips: * Make sure the helmet fits and that kids know how to put on the helmet correctly. In a crash, the risk of head injury is doubled if the helmet is worn incorrectly. A helmet should sit on top of the head in a level position and should not rock forward and backward, or sideto- side. The helmet straps must always be buckled but not too tightly. Safe Kids recommends the "Eyes, Ears and Mouth" test; the rim of the helmet should be one to two finger widths above the eyebrows, the straps should form a "V" just below the ear lobe, the buckle should be flat against the skin and the strap should feel snug when the rider's mouth is open.

* Make sure the bike itself is the proper size for the child. There should be two to four inches of clearance between the bike frame and the child's groin when the child's feet are flat on the ground. Make sure the bike is in good repair -- reflectors are secure, brakes work properly, gears shift smoothly, and tires are tightly secured and properly inflated.

* Remember that bike helmets are for biking. Kids should not wear bike helmets on the playground -- where straps can get caught on equipment and cause injury -- or for activities that require specialized helmets, such as skiing or football.

* When in doubt, get help. The sales staff at any bicycle shop or outdoor recreation store should be able to provide expert advice on fitting and adjusting bikes and helmets. More information is available from the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute on the Internet at www. bhsi. org.

For more information about bicycle safety, visit the Safe Kids organization at www. usa. safekids. org. National Bike Month has been coordinated annually since 1956 by the League of American Bicyclists. For more information on National Bike Month, visit www. bikemonth. org.

Safe Kids Kansas is a nonprofit coalition of 67 statewide organizations and businesses dedicated to preventing accidental injuries to Kansas children. The nearest chapter is located in Pittsburg. For more information, visit the organization's Web site at www. kansassafekids.

org.