Sometimes older kids unintentionally harm the younger ones by letting go of a swing or seesaw abruptly, or just trying to occupy the same space at the same time. The best advice for kids who ride anything is to wear a safety helmet and protective pads on their knees and elbows. There are some real scary statistics about the number of children who are involved in fatal bike-related accidents each year. What s really sad is that in nine out of ten of them, the child wasn t wearing a helmet. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents that 85 percent of all bike-related injuries could be prevented if young riders would just wear their helmets.
Safety really does begin at home.
Young people learn by watching and observing. Actions taken in the first few minutes following an accident can be critical, and may help avoid complications later. Every home should have a fully equipped First Aid kit as well as another one in the car, and family members should all know the principles of emergency care. There are also excellent courses available in most communities which teach the life-saving techniques of CPR and the Heimlich maneuver. Every family should have emergency plans in place for weather and fire disasters, as well.