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Take Care this Summer for Safety and Fun: Bikes, Blades & Boards
By ensuring that children follow important safety measures, you can significantly lower the risk of accidents on bicycles and other outdoor equipment. Your American Red Cross encourages you to TAKE CARE for a fun and safe warm weather season. Whether the children in your life take to bikes, blades or boards this summer, we hope you find these safety tips helpful:
- Help your child by making sure he/she always wear a correctly-fitting helmet when riding. Look for a label or a sticker on the box or inside the helmet indicating that it meets federal standards. If you are active, be sure you wear a helmet, too!
- Kids take to wheels of all kinds. Be sure the helmet is designed for safety needs around the specific outdoor equipment your child uses - such as skateboards, scooters and roller blades. Skaters and boarders need other types of safety equipment, too, such as knee pads and wrist braces.
- Check all equipment to make sure it is working. Test your child's bike brakes and gears, making sure that there is a front light and effective reflecting material. Look over skateboards, scooters and roller blades to ensure that the wheels are in good shape and securely fastened.
- Teach younger children street smarts. They are still learning about the speed and sound of oncoming cars. Teach youngsters to stop at the curb and to never cross the street without a grown-up. Be aware of each child's level of ability and self reliance.
- Reinforce safe riding practices with your older children. Go over bicycle, blade and board etiquette and safety procedures. Ride only in safe areas and at safe times.
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