Life Credit Union

IT'S EASY TO forget how exciting it was to get your first bike and your first real taste of independence. However, this independence comes with the responsibility to stay safe: Safe Kids Worldwide says that in 2014, more than 242,000 American children had to go to the emergency department for bike-related accidents. What's more, biking is the third most common activity related to injuries from sports and recreation in children ages 1–18, according to a report published in a 2014 issue of the Journal of Athletic Training. ARE YOUR KIDS STREET SMART? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), children older than 10 should ride in designated bike lanes on the street rather than on sidewalks. Cars pulling out of driveways represent a significant safety hazard, and older children have enough good judgment to be safer in a bike lane. However, children younger than 10 don't have the same level of decision-making skills, and they generally are safer riding on the sidewalk. When children ride on the street, they should ride with the flow of traffic, not against it, and if riding in groups, they should ride single file. Remember to teach children that they have to obey all traffic laws, just as drivers do, and that drivers probably aren't looking out for them. TO BE SAFE, BE SEEN Children should only ride on the street or sidewalk before dusk, when it's daylight. They should also wear bright clothing, and their bikes should have reflectors in front, back, on each wheel, and on both sides of both pedals. The best way to be sure someone's looking out for your children is to ride with them. When you're unable to do that, having them ride in a group of friends adds a degree of safety, as long as everyone understands the rules of the road. Picking the Right Helmet Every bike helmet sold in the U.S. for adults and children has to pass Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) testing. However, some helmet makers choose to have their helmets tested against the Snell B90A or tougher B95 standards, so look for one of these stickers inside every helmet prior to purchase. BETTER BIKER Build a Build a Adjust helmets to fit. When children look up, they should be able to see the bottom of the front of the helmet, and when they move their jaw down, it should pull the strap and the rest of the helmet with it. Replace after hard hits. Bicycle helmets are designed to protect the user by absorbing damage, and they should be replaced after a single hard impact. Don't skate the issue. Skateboarding helmets aren't required to have CPSC certification, so don't use one for biking unless it has a CPSC sticker. THERE'S MORE TO STAYING SAFE ON A BIKE THAN WEARING A HELMET. ARE YOU TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN ALL THEY NEED TO KNOW?

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