HIGHWOOD SCHOOL - Calgary Board of Education

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Did you know? > By law, all cyclists under 18 years of age must wear an approved bicycle helmet. The law applies to both riders and passengers, including children in bicycle trailers. > Research shows that approved bicycle helmets reduce the risk of brain injury by over 85%. > Positive role modeling helps to ensure that children will wear their helmets so adults should always wear one too. Summer Safety As summer approaches, children and teens of all ages are getting out their gear in preparation of long days filled with activity. Activities in the summer season include: • Biking, • In-line Skating, and • Skateboarding. Awareness of the safe use of bike trailers during this season is also important. Proper supervision, safe environments, hazard awareness, and participating in age-appropriate activities all help reduce the risk of injury to children and teens participating in summer activities. Learn more… > For more information go to www.albertahealthservices.ca/injuryprevention.asp
Managing the Risks ... To help manage risks during summer activities: Look First, Wear the Gear, and Get Trained. General Summer Safety Tips Wear the Gear • Always wear an approved helmet. • People who choose their own helmets are more likely to wear them so allow your children and teens to choose their own. • Start the habit early. As soon as your child gets their first set of wheels, for example a tricycle or a scooter, ensure that he wears a helmet. • As a parent, be an example for others. • Wear bright, reflective clothing. Biking Look First • Ensure that the bicycle fits. Riders should be able to touch the ground with their feet while seated, and the handle bars should be within easy reach. • By law, bicycles must have a working bell or horn. • A well-maintained bicycle will improve your riding pleasure and keep you safe on the road. Before heading out for a ride, always do an ABC Quick Check: > Air: firm tires > Brakes: clean and working properly > Chain: tight, well lubricated Wear the Gear • Always wear a helmet approved for cycling that meets current safety standards. • Replace your helmet at least every five years even if it has not been in a crash. • A helmet that has been in a crash must be replaced even if it does not appear to be damaged. • Wear cycling gloves to improve your grip on the handlebars and proper, supportive footwear. Get Trained • Take a bicycle safety course with a trained instructor. • Obey traffic signs and follow all road rules. • Encourage young cyclists to walk their bicycles across busy intersections. • Stop, look left, right, and left again before entering traffic (roads, driveways, sidewalks, alleys or parking lots). • Stay on the right-hand side of the road and ride in the same direction as traffic. Find out your community’s rules about riding on sidewalks. • Shoulder check every time you move out to turn or pass and always use your hand signals. In-line Skating Look First • Skate on a smooth, flat surface that is free from water, sand, and debris. • Avoid skating near crowds, traffic, and animals. • Do not wear headphones while you are in-line skating. • Cross the road at the corner or at a marked crosswalk. • Always follow the pedestrian lights when crossing the road. • Always pass pedestrians and other skaters on the left. • Blow a whistle or call out ‘passing on your left’ to alert others when you are approaching. Wear the Gear • Wear protective gear every time you skate. This includes a helmet safety tested for in-line skating, knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards. • Wear long-sleeved shirts. • Choose good quality skates that fit your feet properly and provide ankle support. Get Trained • Take lessons to learn how to skate, stop, and fall safely. • First-time skaters should try skating on a flat, grassy surface. Skateboarding Look First • Do a safety check of your board before each ride. Look for loose or broken parts, sharp edges, a slippery top surface, and cracks in the wheels. • Avoid riding near crowds, traffic, and animals. Never ride in the street. • Only one person per skateboard. • Do not wear headphones while you are skateboarding. • Do not hitch a ride from a car or bicycle. • Tricks require careful practice and a designated area. Only skateboard where it is permitted. Wear the Gear • Wear protective gear every time you skate. This includes a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards. • Current Canadian standards do not exist for skateboarding helmets. Consult a reputable skateboarding shop for information on the most appropriate helmet. • Wear closed, slip-resistant shoes. > SUMMER SAFETY Fitting a Bicycle Helmet Before buying a bicycle helmet, measure around the head at eyebrow level and find a helmet that is made for that size of head. Different brands of helmets fit different shaped heads. STEP 1: Place the helmet on the head and make sure it is level from front to back. STEP 2: The helmet must sit 1-2 finger widths (about 3 cm) above the eyebrows. STEP 3: Make sure the helmet fits snugly. The helmet should not move when the cyclist nods or shakes her head. STEP 4: Adjust the straps to form a “V” just below and in front of the earlobes. STEP 5: Do up the chinstrap. STEP 6: Adjust the chinstrap so that you can only fit the width of one finger between the cyclist’s chin and the chinstrap. STEP 7: Make sure the helmet can only be removed by undoing the chin straps. A bicycle helmet must not be worn with a baseball cap underneath – a cap could interfere with the helmet’s effectiveness on impact. Bike Trailers Choose a bike trailer with… • a rotating hitch, • a secure harness system, • metal bars or a ‘roll cage’ around the carrier, • non-removable sides, • reflectors on all sides or one that is made of reflective material. Using a trailer safely… • ensure the trailer is properly secured to the bicycle, • ensure you and your child wear a bicycle helmet, • before children are ready to travel in a bicycle trailer, they should be able to sit upright, have good head control, and should be over one year of age, • secure the harness at all times, • mount a brightly coloured flag at least 0.9m (3 ft) high at the back of the trailer, • only carry the recommended load, • be aware of the increased length and width of the bicycle with a trailer, • practice riding on quiet streets before heading out onto busy roads or pathways. INJURIES ARE NOT ACCIDENTS… THEY ARE PREDICTABLE AND PREVENTABLE! Revised April 2011 CHP09-1295 (2009/04)
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HIGHWOOD SCHOOL - Calgary Board of Education

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