USE OF SAFETY GEARS
Why Is Bike Safety So Important?
Bike riding is a lot of fun, but accidents happen. The safest way to use your bike is to get places, not to play. Every year, lots of kids need to see their doctor or go to the emergency room because of bike injuries.
Why Should We Wear Bike Helmet?
wearing a helmet that fits well every time you're on a bike helps protect your face, head, and brain if you fall down. That's why it's so important to wear your bike helmet whenever you are on a bike.
Wear a bike helmet every time you ride, even if you're going for a short ride. And follow these rules:
- Make sure your bike helmet fits you well.
- Always wear your helmet the right way so it will protect you: Make sure it covers your forehead and don't let it tip back. Always fasten the straps.
- Don't wear a hat under your helmet.
- Take care of your helmet and don't throw it around. If it's damaged, it won't protect you as well when you need it.
- Get a new helmet if you fall while you're on your bike and hit your head.
- Put reflective stickers on your helmet so drivers can see you better.
Seat belt
Do you use your seat belt on every ride? Buckling up on every ride is the single most important thing a family can do to stay safe in the car. Here are a few tips to make buckling up a part of every car ride.
Seatbelt Basics
Whenever you ride in a car, wear your seatbelt every time. No matter how short the trip is — even if it's only around the corner — you still need to buckle up. This is so important because if the car you're riding in gets into an accident, the seatbelt keeps you safe in your seat. Even if the car is moving slowly, you can still get thrown around if you're not wearing your seatbelt.
When you get into a car, buckle up right away. Most cars have one belt that goes over the lap and the shoulder. Some older cars have a shoulder belt that is separate from the lap belt so you need to buckle both. Or they might have no shoulder belt and only a belt across the lap.
Whichever kind of seatbelt you come across, the directions are the same: Buckle every belt.
If you're wearing a seatbelt correctly:
- The lap (lower) part of the belt should be sitting low and tight across the upper part of your hips. It should never go across the upper half of your belly.
- The shoulder part of the seatbelt should fit snugly across your chest and shoulder, not under your arm or across your neck or face.
Sometimes seatbelts need to be adjusted to fit a kid, so ask an adult to make sure your seatbelt fits right.
Riding in a friend's or relative's car is no excuse to skip the seatbelt. Even if your friend or friend's parents don't wear seatbelts, always wear yours. And don't ever share a seatbelt with a friend — it might look like fun to buckle up as a pair, but you could both get hurt if an accident happens.
BOOSTER SEATS (Child Seat)
Depending on your height, you might also need a booster seat. Booster seats help you sit up high enough so the shoulder part of seatbelt fits properly across your chest.
Get in the Back
Here's another important safety rule: Sit in the back seat. Kids 12 years old and younger need to be sitting in the back. Period. It's simply the safest place to be.
THE CHILD LOCK IN CARS – WHAT IS IT?
When they’re activated, they prevent rear seat passengers from opening the doors from the inside – both when the car’s stationary and when it’s moving.
How you activate the child locks will vary slightly depending on the make and model of your car. But usually, it’s simply a case of opening your rear doors and looking for a small switch on the edge of the door.
