Kids spend a lot of time riding things that move during the summer, rolling along on bicycles, skateboards and scooters. It’s a lot of fun, but when a child takes a tumble, injuries as minor as scraped knees and as severe as death can occur.
A high percentage of those injuries can be prevented if adults make sure that children are using helmets and riding in the right venues, according to Stephen W. Hargarten, MD, MPH, Professor and Director of the Injury Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
“Any time you start putting kids in objects that move, they have a risk of falling off and meeting with structures like cement roadways that are not energy-absorbing, and they suffer injuries,” Dr. Hargarten told HealthLink. “They suffer injuries to their extremities - such as broken wrists, which are a common problem - to head injuries, which are also common.”
“I’d rather take care of a broken wrist than a broken brain, because I can’t really do much to help fix the broken brain,” Dr. Hargarten said. “So the best treatment to address broken brains is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Read: helmets.”
Dr. Hargarten stressed that kids on wheels don’t just fall off. They often collide with stationary objects like trees or moving objects like cars or other kids on wheels.
Look for Paths and Playgrounds
“The advice I’d give to parents is to look for ways in which you can maximize the separation between this activity and other things that move,” Dr. Hargarten said. “You don’t want to have those things in the same areas, so you look for bike paths, you look for playgrounds, you look for places that separate the cars from these activities.”
“It’s interesting that as the kids get lower down in their center of gravity, on scooters, I become less concerned about serious injuries,” Dr. Hargarten said. “They’ll get injured, they’ll scrape themselves. But these little two-wheeled scooters, I don’t think they are that much of a risk compared to bicycles. Bicycles are higher up, you’re going faster, and you’re getting into the intersections with collisions.”
The risk of injury for skateboard riders fits in between the risk for non-motorized scooter riders and bicycle riders, Hargarten said. “These kids (on skateboards) are doing tricks, they’re skateboarding into areas where they should not be, and they’re taking risks with a skateboard to have fun.”
Messages about wearing helmets, riding off-street, and skateboarding in specially designed areas wearing full protective gear appear to be getting through, Hargarten noted, citing the prevalence of helmets on young bicycle riders as an example. “I think, generally, parents are more knowledgeable about injury patterns,” Hargarten said.
Buy a Child a Helmet
In addition to tips on bicycle helmets and other gear, the Children’s Hospital web site offers information on a variety of seasonal and non-seasonal injury prevention techniques designed to keep kids safe.
Wearing a bike helmet is the best way to protect the human brain. Of those who die from bicycle accidents, about 75% have brain injuries. Helmets reduce the risk of head injury by up to 85%.
Important features
There are a number of important features to consider when choosing a helmet:
- Be sure the helmet is specifically designed for cycling.
- Buy a lightweight helmet with good ventilation.
- Choose an adjustable helmet so it can be fitted properly.
- Never reuse a bicycle helmet that has been worn in a crash. Safety components may be damaged and become ineffective.
- Select a helmet with bright colors and allow your child to personalize it with stickers or paint so he or she will be more likely to wear it.
Make Sure It Fits
- Choose the helmet size that best fits your child’s current head size.
- A correctly fitted helmet should be worn squarely on the head so it sits flat and covers the top of the forehead. The front of the helmet should be no more than 3/4” above the child’s eyebrows.
- Adjust the straps so it does not slide when you push up or down on the front or back of the helmet. The straps should form a “Y” just under your child’s ear.
- Straps should always be snapped and fit snugly under the chin.
Remember, adults also need to wear helmets. Wearing bicycle helmets should be a non-negotiable rule for the whole family.
