As parents, we want to protect our children from any harm they might encounter in their young years. And since many children have a feeling of invincibility, teaching them about helmet safety is one of the most essential safety habits you can give them.
Below are only a few examples of situations and reasons why wearing a helmet is so important to protect kids.
Bicycle Riding
The prevention of head and brain injuries is the most important reason why kids need to wear helmets. Bicycle riders wearing helmets reduce their chance of injuries to their head by 50%, and injuries to their face and neck are reduced by 33%, according to The Department of Transportation. Sadly though, only 21 states and the District of Columbia require helmets to be worn by minors while riding bikes, but hopefully, future laws will be enacted to ensure the safety of our kids all across the country.
As a monetary factor, insurance might come into play as well. As Casey Shomo Law Offices points out, a motorcyclist who wasn’t wearing protective gear during a motorcycle crash might not be covered by insurance for medical expenses related to the incident; the same principle applies to kids who crash on bicycles without a helmet.
Skateboarding
Skateboarding has been around for a long time, and it’s still increasing in popularity among teenagers. Because skateboarding almost always requires riding on a hard surface such as concrete or asphalt, the chances of a head injury are even greater. In one year alone, over 10,000 head injuries happened to children 14 and under due to skateboards, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
In 2003, California required children under 18 to wear helmets each time they set foot on a skateboard. Let’s hope other states follow their example.
Skiing And Snowboarding
Both of these are also popular recreational activities enjoyed by young and old alike, and although the element of coming into contact with a hard surface might not be involved here as much as it is in skateboarding, safety is still a major concern. Collisions with trees or other skiers happen more often than some people might think, and the chance of a serious head injury is always possible.
Recent studies have shown that head injuries are reduced by 30 to 50% with the use of helmets, according to Dr. Jasper Shealy, who has been studying skiing injuries for more than 30 years.
The National Ski Areas Association urges using helmets while on the slopes, and in 2002 the Lids on Kids campaign was launched.
Teaching By Example
Kids tend to look up to their parents, not just in their everyday life, but life in general. So being a good role model and teaching by example is an excellent way to encourage good safety habits in our youth.
Our children are the most precious things we have in life. It is a parent’s job to protect them, nurture them, and prepare them for the future. There’s no reason to take chances. Teach your children to take the responsible precaution of using a helmet.