Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Bike Helmets

I rarely see a child in my neighborhood riding a bike without a helmet. When I was a child, no one wore helmets. I don't even know if they were available. And anyone who would have worn a helmet would have been considered a dork. I am so happy that thought has changed and kids at a young age are being taught helmets are a must, not an option.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission held an event this week in Chicago.

Here's the story from the Associated Press:

Parents should take their children along when shopping for a bike helmet to get the best fit. That's the message from Nancy Nord of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Nord says nearly 240,000 bicycle injuries sent children to emergency rooms in 2006.

Those bike injuries topped the list of sports-related injuries for children under age 15. Nord spoke at U.S. Cellular Field where White Sox catchers A.J. Pierzynski and Toby Hall handed out free bike helmets to children from Chicago's McClellan Elementary School. Nord says wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent.

Do your kids wear helmets? If you have older children, did they wear helmets? When do you think this trend started?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

4 comments:

Rixblix said...

Both of my boys always wear helmets. Always. They've complained and tried to get away without wearing one but it's a rule that remains unbroken! In our old home town, police officers driving through residential neighborhoods would randomly stop and hand out gift certificates good for an ice cream cone to children they saw wearing bike helmets. It was an effective incentive!

My Flock Rocks! said...

I just got a bike..circa 1956 girls pink Schwinn...I think for Grandmother's Day the kids are going to get me a helmet!

Jen Christensen said...

That says a lot that the kids are now getting grandma to wear a helmet! Have a blast on your bike! I used to have a Schwin and loved it!
Rix and Flock-I am using your comments on HOI tonight at 5pm. Thanks!

My Flock Rocks! said...

Jen,
Thanks for mentioning my comment tonight on the 5:00 news! You can imagine how surprised I was when I saw it and heard you reading it! I blogged about the bike when I got it a couple weeks ago at an antique shop and you can see the picture of it at myflockrocks.blogspot.com
It needs some work, but it will be a fun project restoring it!
Thanks again!
Sue AKA Flamingo1

 
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