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Tip #10

Tip #10
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Toddlers are often hurt by backing vehicles.no.gif (404 bytes)

 

Tip #10

Play it safe: walking and biking safely
Play it safe: (toddlers & preschoolers)

Dangers for young children on the move:

  • darting out into traffic from the middle of the block;
  • playing in or near the street;
  • riding a tricycle or bike in a parking lot, driveway, or street.

Young children are NOT small adults!

  1. They move quickly and can run into
    the street without warning.
  2. They don't know safety rules and expect
    adults to watch out for them.
  3. They are small and hard for drivers to see.
  4. They cannot judge speed or distance of
    vehicles moving toward them.

Children hit by cars can be hurt or killed, even when cars are moving slowly. Toddlers (one and two 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 him. Preschoolers (three and four year olds) are most often hit when dashing 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.

Take steps to safety

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, not watching from a distance. Hold your child's hand when you walk together along the street (B).

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, local police, and community planners about ways to improve the area. (See Tip 14.)

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.

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.

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.

 

Head out safely

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).

Choose a helmet that meets current safety standards. Look for a CPSC1, ASTM2, ANSI3, or Snell4 sticker inside the helmet. By 1999, every new helmet must meet the CPSC standard.

Insist that your child wear a helmet whenever 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.

1Consumer product Safety Commission
2American Society for Testing and Materials
3American National Standards Institute
4Snell Memorial Foundation

The right fit

  • Make sure the helmet covers the upper part of
    the forehead and sits level on the head.
  • 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.

Carrying your child safely on a bike

Never carry a baby under age one on a bicycle. A baby does not have the neck strength to wear a helmet. Her 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. Ride only in safe areas like parks, bike paths, or quiet streets.

  • Make sure both adult and child wear 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.
  • Check that the carrier is fastened firmly to the bike.
  • Buckle the harness snugly around the child.
  • For more information, call the
    NHTSA Auto Safety Hotline: 1-888-DASH-2-DOT
    or visit the NHTSA web site, http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/.

    See Tip Sheet #11 for pedestrian and bicycle
    safety tips for school-age children.

    B

    Hold your child's hand so she doesn't dash into the street
    C

    Parks and playgrounds are safe places to play away from traffic.
    D

    Start helmet use early - even when riding a tricycle or play vehicle.
    E

    Only children over age one have the neck strength to wear helmets and ride on the back of bikes.
    Tip 10, Revised: 10/98 WebLogo.gif (5232 bytes)

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