Helmets save lives, reduce serious injury
It’s that time of year which brings us all outdoors enjoying the fine weather. It is the time that kids are out riding their bikes, skateboards and razor scooters. These along with other outdoor activities such as riding on an ATV call for the use of helmets, properly fitted to the child. As any emergency medical person will attest to, helmets provide an integral part in reducing serious head injuries.
The American Automobile Association In Cooperation With The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission asked 282 kids, ages 8 to 13, from schools in Pennsylvania, Florida, Oklahoma, Ohio, New Mexico, New York, Nebraska, and Washington, just what they thought about bike helmets.
Look what they had to say!
What could happen if you had a bike crash and weren’t wearing a helmet?
n “You could be paralyzed, killed, or you could suffer damage.”
n “You could bust your head open on the sidewalk or a rock.”
n “You could go into a coma.”
n “You could break your neck or crack your head.
n “You could have serious brain damage and you might have to learn all you know over again.”
Nationally, only about 15 percent of all kids wear bike helmets. In this AAA survey of school children, here’s how often kids wore bike helmets:
Always or most of the time … 43 percent
Occasionally … 11 percent
Seldom or never … 44 percent
No answer … 2 percent
Helmet usage of the surveyed kids is better than the national average. Even so, more than half of the children surveyed don’t wear bike helmets most of the time. This means lots of these kids could be injured riding bikes.
One more thing… Now that we have helmets on our children, what about Mom & Dad? You are their role model and your children rely on you to provide for their well being. What if you were injured? For a day, a week or forever? Who would care for them? Keeping them safe means also keeping you safe. Get a helmet and wear it for them!
If your child needs a bike helmet, contact me at (208) 263-2184, ext. 1027.
Diane Arrants is the Safe Routes to School coordinator for the Lake Pend Oreille School District.