A Head for Safety

Q: Why isn’t there ever a Kid’s Day?
A: Every day is Kid’s Day.

We get this question every year (usually on Mother’s Day, of course). It’s a cliché, but it’s true. And there you are, answering the question just like your mother did. 

Speaking of those kids, we feel the same way about their safety. So it’s OK if you didn’t know this week is the 2010 Safe Kids Week because as far as we’re concerned, every week is Child Safety Week. But since it is officially happening this week, we’ve got a few handy reminders for you as the summer gets into full swing.

Over the years, we’ve shared tips on fire safety, water safety and pedestrian safety. All are important to brush up on. This year’s Safe Kids Week theme is Got Wheels? Get a Helmet! And we’re behind it all the way.

Here are some not-so-fun facts to support wearing a helmet. A child’s skull is only one centimetre thick (less than the width of your average pen). That’s fragile, and can be easily fractured by an impact sustained at low speeds of 7 to 10 km an hour—a speed that kids on bicycles can reach easily. Traumatic brain injuries account for 8% of emergency room visits by cyclists, 4% of visits by skateboarders and in-line skaters and 6% for injuries related to scooters (for kids under 19), according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. The good news is that wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85%.

So how can we make sure our kids have the right kind of helmet and are wearing it properly for maximum protection? We’ve got five tips to help, courtesy of Safe Kids Canada:

• Ensure your children wear a helmet every time they ride (anything).
• Get the right kind of helmet. Choose a helmet designed for bicycles, in-line skates and scooters. Skateboarders need a special skateboarding helmet that covers more of the back of their head.
• Ensure the helmet fits your child. The helmet should rest two finger-widths above the eyebrow. The side and chin straps should be snug.
• People of all ages should wear a helmet when they ride. Remember, you are your child’s best role model.
• Children under 10 should not ride on the road. They do not have the physical and decision-making skills to handle themselves safely in traffic. Children over 10 need to practice before they can ride on the road.

Safe Kids Canada has prepared a fun pamphlet that you can download to print and take home to share with your kids.

And don’t let the kids tell you that helmets don’t look cool—we know of some pretty swell helmet covers that will not only make them more fun, but will help make sure they are noticed by drivers.

So head’s up—it’s time to play it safe.

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