Tykes and Bikes
Summer means many children are on their bicycles -- sometimes with disastrous results. Bicycle-related head injuries account for 500 deaths and 153,000 emergency room visits each year, according to the CDC.
Wearing a helmet could eliminate some of those deaths and injuries, says Tara Dortch, of UAB's THINK FIRST injury prevention program. Dortch says parents should teach their kids to ride in the same direction as traffic, obey traffic rules and yield the right of way to pedestrians and automobiles. Parents also should purchase a bike that "fits" their child. "Don't be afraid to start with a tricycle for young children. The concept of buying something a size bigger works with clothes but not bikes."
Contact Bob Shepard, Media Relations, 205-934-8934 or [email protected].
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