February was child safety month but keeping your child safe is a year round project.

As the weather gets warmer and your children are more active outdoors, it is important to make sure that they are fully protected and prepared for their activities. One activity that goes hand in hand with the warmer weather is bicycle riding.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has projected 900 bike related deaths and over 567,000 injuries that require emergency medical attention this year alone. thirty-one percent of those deaths will be to children under 16. Head injuries will be the leading cause of death in these accidents.

“A $12 bicycle helmet purchased at any discount store could mean the difference between life or death,” said Gary Hays, a leading personal injury lawyer in Georgia. “The commission's survey states that the risk of death or serious head injury could be reduced by 85 percent if the bikers wore their helmets.”

When purchasing a helmet, it is important to remember these three things: the helmet should not slide side to side or front to back, the chin strap should be snug, and there should be a label inside the helmet stating that it is up to Consumer Product Safety Commision standards. When wearing the helmet,it is important to wear it low and level near the forehead.

Along with the use of helmets, it is important that your child knows the rules of the road, including the proper hand signals, wears reflective clothing and has light reflectors on the bike while riding at night, and does not ride alone or unsupervised.

Bicycle riding is a fun and healthy activity that can and should be enjoyed by all. By using common sense and taking preventive measures, it can be a safe summer for everybody.

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