Each year, over 200 children ages 14 and under died in bicycle-related crashes. An estimated 140,000 children are treated each year in emergency rooms for head injuries sustained while bicycling. Bicycle helmets have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of head and brain injury. In fact, it is estimated that as many as seven out of every eight bicycle related fatalities among children could have been prevented with a bicycle helmet. In 1998, 726 children ages 14 and under died from pedestrian injuries.
Seminole County’s Safe Kids Coalition believes in providing proper bicycle and pedestrian safety information to youth and adults in our community. Through printed materials, educational courses in schools, and “Bike-Rodeos”, team members provide instruction and hands-on demonstrations. Below are a few safety tips that you can use.

Safety Information

A helmet should be worn every time you ride a bike, scooter, skateboard or in-line skate. It is also important to wear the appropriate helmet when skiing or snowboarding. Use the following guidelines for purchasing and correctly wearing a helmet:

• The helmet should fit comfortably and not be able to move when you jerk your head from side to side.
• It should sit parallel to the ground, not tilted back, with about an inch (two fingers) between your eyebrows and the lower edge of the helmet.
• Make sure the helmet straps are always buckled. The straps should fit snugly, but not too tightly. The sliding clasp on each side of the head should be situated just below the ears. You should be able to put a finger under the closed strap against your neck.
• Getting the fit "just right" is a matter of trial and error, using the pads provided by the manufacturer and the strap adjustments. Try several helmets in the store; not all helmet styles will fit all heads equally well.

As an adult, you should set a good example by always wearing a helmet yourself. In Florida, it is the law for all youth under 16 to wear a bike helmet.