A law firm in Arkansas is promoting bike safety by giving away helmets to local children.
During the week of May 15-19 the Law Offices of Alan LeVar will be giving out 100 helmets to help promote bike safety during National Bike Safety Month. Any child who stops by their Arkadelphia office at 702 Caddo St. can pick up their free helmet.
Why are bike helmets important?
The Centers for Disease Control notes that millions of U.S. residents enjoy riding bikes, but fewer than half choose to use helmets. In a recent year, 800 bicyclists died and more than 500,000 sustained injuries that required a trip to an emergency department. About half those cyclists were children and young people under age 20.
Alarmingly, approximately 26,000 of the bike-related injuries that children and adolescents suffer each year are traumatic brain injuries. The CDC warns that any bike rider who fails to wear a helmet increases their risk of head injuries.
Making sure that children wear properly fitting bike helmets is one of the biggest steps parents can take to ensure safety.
Convincing children to wear bike helmets
Some children may balk at wearing bike helmets for fear of being teased. When children resist, parents should discuss the need for safety and make sure children are aware of the risks of failing to wear a helmet.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that parents start having children wear helmets early in life—ideally, when children begin riding tricycles—to establish the habit. Children should be allowed to have a role in choosing their helmets and should be asked if helmets fit comfortably.
Helmets should cover the top of a child’s forehead and should be worn at the top of the head. A helmet that sits too far back does not protect the child’s forehead. An adult should make sure that the chin strap on the helmet has a snug fit.
To encourage children to wear their helmets, parents should set good examples by wearing helmets themselves, and they should talk with children about the reasons that wearing a helmet is important for safety.
