For Parents: If your child owns a bicycle....

[Esmerelda]

PLEASE BUY HIM/HER A HELMET AND BE CERTAIN THAT ITS WORN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am an ER nurse and have watched 3 kids in my last 4 shifts with head injuries. Two of those children died and the third had serious brain injuries. All of this happened because NONE of the 3 wore a helmet on their heads!! Something as simple as a $30 helmet could have saved two of those lives. I just don't get it?
I have two boys that are almost 9 and 12 and they have had a helmet on from day 1. Our town even has a festival every year and they GIVE away helmets...?

Come on parents: this is your child's head....it CANNOT be replaced. BUY THE KID A HELMET!!! Accidents happen everyday.
No child is invincible and bulletproof but sadly enough, these 3 parents thought so.


disgusted,
Esmerelda

 

[Dan Murphy]

Thanks E. Sad.

And how many folks you see unnecessarily injured due to lack of seat belt or car seat restraints? All so unnecessary.

 

[Mr.BsMom]

Why wouldn't parents make their children wear them?? That's just plain stupid! My son ALWAYS wears his, and he has since he first got on a bike... There's no way I'm going to allow him to ride without one!

That's horrible for those parents who lost their children...

Thanks for the reminder to everyone!!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

We just bought DD a helmet last week. She is learning to ride a bike.

DH thinks I am a little over protective because we never wore helmets and are fine. Then I remind him of the incident where he was riding on the street WITH HIS EYES CLOSED and NO HANDS and he ran into a parked car. Ended up with a nice gash in his head. Could have been worse. (This was when he was a kid though. )


DD likes wearing her helmet and it is good to start them young.

 

[TalkisCheap]

Helmets are definatly important to everyone! My track coach says that his helmet saved his life during his wicked bad bike accident, and I don't even want to think of what might have happened to my dad if he hadn't been wearing his when he wiped out some years back. His helmet was ripped to shreds, but his head was alright....I can't think if his helmet hadn't been the one torn up....

 

[DSNY FN]

Kids have to wear a helmet here if they are under 16 I believe it is that is a law here.

 

[FroggyinArk]

isnt goingto even get started preachin gthis morning but i am building a page with my version of why you should wear seat belts,, will post the addy asap,, jeff btw,, put a helmet on those kids, even if you survive a head injury, you never seem to be ok afterwards.

 

[Az Pirates]

Originally posted by Jenn Lynn
DD likes wearing her helmet and it is good to start them young.

I really think that's the key.
My oldest still fights the helmet thing because we let her ride without it when she started. (not as big of a push for it then)
My youngest knows it's a given. If you're on the bike, you wear the helmet.

I cringe when adults ride motorcycles without them as well and here in AZ it is still legal to ride in the back of an open pick-up. See it all the time. Yikes!

Esmerelda,
thanks for the reminder. It must be so emotionally draining for you.

 

[Jolie C]

My son always, always wears his helmet, but I see so many kids around my house that don't!

 

[Dizzy-Disney4]

My kids both wear their helmets even though most of the kids in the neighborhood don't. They don;t question it....they either wear their helmets or they don't ride...end of story!

 

[tidoublegger]

Such an important reminder....thanks! Just FYI, many local police and/or fire departments have bike helmets and carseats for those who can't afford them!

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

I always make my kids wear helmets. No helmet no bike riding! That's the rule.

Thanks for the reminder. Our neighbor's kids "forget" theirs at least 1/2 the time.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

It's the law here also, I took my nephews down to the surf shop and bought them the bright colored helmets and had them personalized, they all think they're way cool like Toni Hawk.

A reminder helmets should be inspected and replaced very few years they do get cracks in them that decreases the protection.

 

[TerryKitten]

Also make sure your kids fasten the strap.

It the law to wear them in Oregon.... but I see so many kids w/ them on but not straped on. Makes me think that it would do more damage than good if they crash w/ an unfasten helmet.

I've warn a helmet since I was 12 (over 15 years ago)... We were the first to wear them in my neghborhood and we became trend seters... every kid wanted one

 

[binny]

OMGOSH how sad and how easily preventable.
Ill pray for those families. I cant imagine the guilt they must be feeling.
My kids always wear their helmets and anyone who uses our stuff has to wear a helmet too. You just never know.

 

[makaylee]

When we lived on an AF base it was the law for both adults and children to wear helmets while riding any sort of bikes or scooters. Right now we are not living on base and my daughter sees all of the kids riding bikes without helmets. At first she would say, "oh my gosh mom that kid isn't wearing a helmet!" Now sometimes she bugs me, "mom do I really have to wear it, none of the other kids are?" I just tell her don't even ask me, you know the answer. I always have to remind her of the story about my moms friend who lost her son in a bike accident because he wasnt wearing a helmet. This usually works for about a week or so then she asks again. My answer is ALWAYS gonna be the same.

 

[speedi-deedi]

My boys' helmets hang right on the handlebars in the garage. They don't even think of getting on without them. This year DH got a bike to ride with DS 8, and I made him buy a helmet too. I don't want either of them to think there is any 'choice' involved.

When we see motorcyclists without helmets, my DS 6 unfailingly says "Mom - look, he's not being safe." A little judgemental maybe, but he's got the message.

Thanks for the reminder. Your experince may make it real for some who needed the nudge.

 

[Esmerelda]

Thanks folks...for all the great posts! I'm so happy to see that there are parents who do believe that helmets (and safety belts!) are a necessity when on the road!!

It saddens me to have to see this when the weather starts getting nice out and all the kids are on there bikes. Yes, I have seen some of the adults on motorcycles in the same boat unfortunately. Its just such a easy thing to prevent. I'm so glad that my boys understant that a helmet "IS NOT AN OPTION". If they want to ride...they gotta wear it.


pixie dust and kudos to all the great parents out there!!!!
Esmerelda

 

[Dizzy-Disney4]

I meant to say that kids in the city I used to live in were given coupons by the police when they were seen wearing their helmets, for a free icecream from the local icecream stand. Was a real incentive for many of the kids.

 

[snoopy]

No helmet, no bikes. End of story.