TIP #7: PLAY
IT SAFE: WALKING AND BIKING SAFELY
Children hit by cars can be hurt or killed, even when cars are moving
slowly. Toddlers (1 and 2 year olds) are most often hurt by a backing
vehicle. If a child is playing in a driveway or parking area (A), a driver
may not see her/him. Preschoolers (3 and 4 year olds) are most often
hit when running across a street near home.
Falls from tricycles or other play vehicles can cause
serious head and brain injury. These injuries to young children can be
as serious as injuries to older children falling from bikes.
DANGERS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN ON THE MOVE:
- darting out
into traffic from the middle of the block;
- playing in or near the
street; and
- riding a tricycle or bike in a parking lot, driveway,
or street.
YOUNG CHILDREN ARE NOT SMALL ADULTS!
- They cannot judge speed or distance of vehicles moving
toward them.
- They move quickly and can run into the
street without warning.
- They don't know safety rules and expect adults
to watch out for them.
- They are small and hard for drivers to see.
TAKE THESE STEPS TO SAFETY:
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Hold your child’s hand so she/he doesn’trun
into the street. |
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Parks and playgrounds are safe places to play away from traffic. |
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- Supervise, supervise, supervise
Parents and caregivers must watch
toddlers and preschoolers closely when they are near parked or moving
vehicles. To supervise properly, you must be near your child at all
times, not watching from a distance. Hold your child's hand when you
walk together along the street (B).
- Get them in the habit
When walking, talk to your child about street
safety. Show him/her how to stop at the edge of the street and look
for cars. Don't expect your young child to do this by herself/himself.
Start children wearing helmets with their first tricycles or play vehicles.
When children begin helmet use early, they are more likely to keep
the habit in later years. Make a rule: No helmets, no bike.
- Set a safe
example
Young children learn by watching adults. Show them safe
ways to cross streets and always wear a helmet when you ride a bike.
- Find
safe places to play
Keep children away from traffic (C). Fenced yards,
parks, or playgrounds are good places for your child to ride and play.
Are there safe play places for children in your neighborhood? If not,
talk with neighbors, police, and community planners about ways to improve
the area.
HEAD OUT SAFELY!
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Start helmet use early; even when riding a tricycle or play
vehicle. |
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Only children over age 1 have the neck strength
to wear helmets and ride on the back of bikes. |
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- Wearing a bike helmet is the most important way for
your child to stay safe on a play vehicle, tricycle, or bike. A helmet
can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent when worn correctly.
- Toddler helmets are lightweight, because a toddler's neck is not
strong enough for a regular helmet. Also, these helmets come down low
around the back of the head for more coverage (D).
- Insist that your
child wear a helmet whenever he/she rides. If your child's preschool
uses tricycles, work with the school to make helmets available. Urge
the school to have a policy requiring helmet use.
- Every new helmet
must meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Standard
and display a label stating that it meets the standard. On older helmets,
look for a CPSC, ASTM1 , ANSI2 , or Snell3 sticker inside the helmet.
THE RIGHT FIT IS IMPORTANT!
- Make sure the helmet covers the upper part of the
forehead and sits level on the head (two finger widths above the eyebrows).
(E)
- Use the foam pads inside to fit the helmet
snugly so it doesn't slip around.
- Adjust the chin strap tightly enough
so the helmet pulls down when the child opens his mouth.
- Adjust the
two side straps so they meet in a 'V' right under each ear.
CARRYING YOUR CHILD SAFELY ON A BIKE (F):
- NEVER carry a baby under age 1 on a bicycle. A baby
does not have the neck strength to wear a helmet. The baby's back is
not strong enough to sit straight with the motion of the bike.
- When
a child is old enough to ride on an adult's bike, only a skilled
rider should carry him/her.
- Ride only in safe areas like parks, bike
paths, or quiet streets.
- Make sure both adult and child are wearing
properly fitting helmets.
- Make sure the child carrier has a high
back, a lap and shoulder harness, and foot guards to keep feet away
from the spokes.
- Make sure the bike trailer has a high-back seat
and a lap and shoulder harness.
- Check that the carrier or trailer
is fastened firmly to the bike.
- Buckle the harness snugly around
the child.
1American Society
for Testing and Materials
2American National Standards Institute
3Snell
Memorial Foundation
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For more information, contact the DOT Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT
(1-888-327-4236) or www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Illustrations from Indiana University School of Medicine |
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