October 06, 2008

Health Tip: Biking Safely

(HealthDay News) -- Proper supervision and wearing protective gear, especially a helmet, are critical to biking safely.

The Nemours Foundation offers these safety tips for children to prevent biking accidents:

• Wear fluorescent, brightly-colored or reflective clothing when biking, especially at night or in the evening. Avoid dark clothes.
• Wear lightweight clothing to keep cool.
• Wear pants with tight-fitting legs -- no flared or wide leg pants that can get caught in gears or spokes.
• If biking with a backpack, make sure the straps are tied up and out of the way.
• Wear sturdy shoes that can grip bike pedals. Never wear cleats, heeled shoes, or flip flops, and never bike barefoot.

-- Diana Kohnle

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