Bicycle Safety Awareness Program

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Bicycle Safety Awareness Program

• Presented by Mrs. Villarreal, Education
  Coordinator
  
• Texas Office for Prevention of Developmental
  Disabilities

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To wear or not to wear?

• Why do you think it is important to wear a
  helmet when you ride a bicycle?
  

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Reasons to wear a helmet.

• Bike helmets help protect your brain from brain
  injuries.
  
• Bike helmets help prevent injury to your face.
• Brain injuries do not heal-like a broken bone.

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Key Words

• What is a brain injury?
• Where is the skull and what is the purpose of a
  skull?

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Definitions

• Brain Injury- Damage to the brain caused by a
  blow to the head or jarring of the brain.
  
• Skull-The skeleton of the head that encloses
  and protects the brain and supports the jaws.

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Bike Helmet vs. Other Helmets

• Why does it have to be a bike helmet?

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Why a Bike Helmet?

• Each type of helmet is made to protect your head
  from the impacts common to a particular activity
  or sport. Such as sliding along pavement or
  hitting a curb.
• Other helmets may not protect your head as
  effectively.
  
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

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Demonstration

• Watch the following demonstration and explain
  the reason why this experiment was chosen.

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(No Transcript)
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Protect Your BrainWear a Bike Helmet!

• No matter how young or old you are, wearing a
  helmet is a good idea.
  

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Franklin Book

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Page 1
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Reasons I hear for not wearing a Helmet!!!!

• Its not cool!
• It will mess up my hair!
• It might get lost!
• My friends dont wear one!
• The color doesnt match my bike!

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Famous People Who Wear Helmets!

• Lance Armstrong-7 time Tour De France Bike Race
  Winner (Lives in Austin)
  
• Tony Romo- Dallas Cowboy Football Player
• Joshua Beckett-pitcher Boston Red Socks
• (Joshua was born in Spring, TX)
• Jimmie Johnson- 4 Time NASCAR Winner

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Safety Tips

• Be sure to ride on the right side
• of the road.
• Watch for cars! Especially at cross streets and
  driveways.
  
• Look both ways before crossing the street.
• When riding to school, cross at the crosswalk
  with a crossing guard.
  

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Safety Tips Continued

• Inspect your tires and brakes each time you
  ride.
  
• Check your helmet fit each time you ride.
• Replace helmets after a crash or every five
  years.
  
• Never talk to strangers, even when riding a
  bike.
  

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Safety Tips Continued

• Always wear closed toe shoes.
• Be sure your pants wont get caught in the
  chain.
  
• Never wear your helmet on the playground! Any
  ideas why you shouldnt?
  
• Stunts??? Take personal responsibility to avoid
  accidents!
  

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Turn Signals
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Its not enough to simply buy a bicycle helmet
it should be properly fitted, adjusted, and worn
each time you ride. The Proper Helmet FitHel
mets come in various sizes, just like hats. Size
can vary between manufacturers. For the most
comprehensive list of helmet sizes according to
manufacturers, go to the Bicycle Helmet Safety
Institute (BHSI) site http//www.danscomp.com/pro
ducts/charts/helmetchart.htm
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Step 1 - Size

• Measure your head for approximate size. Try the
  helmet on to ensure it fits snuggly. While it is
  sitting flat on top of your head, make sure the
  helmet doesnt rock side to side. Sizing pads
  come with new helmets use the pads to securely
  fit to your head. Mix or match the sizing pads
  for the greatest comfort. In your childs helmet,
  remove the padding when your childs head grows.
  If the helmet has a universal fit ring instead of
  sizing pads, adjust the ring size to fit the head.

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Steps 2 3
Step 2 - Position The helmet should sit level
on your head and low on your foreheadone or two
finger-widths above your eyebrow.
Step 3 - Buckles Center the left buckle under
the chin. On most helmets, the straps
can be pulled from the back of the helmet to
lengthen or shorten the chin straps. This task i
s easier if you take the helmet off to
make these adjustments.
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Steps 4 5
Step 4 - Side Straps Adjust the slider on both
straps to form a V shape under,
and slightly in front of, the ears. Lock the
slider if possible.
Step 5 - Chin Strap Buckle your chin strap.
Tighten the strap until it is snug,
so that no more than one or two fingers fit under
the strap.
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Step 6 - Final Fitting
A. Does your helmet fit right? Open your mouth
widebig yawn! The helmet should pull down on th
e head. If not, refer back to step 5 and tighten
the chin strap. B. Does your helmet rock back
more than two fingers above the eyebrows?
If so, unbuckle, shorten the front strap by
moving the slider forward. Buckle, retighten the
chin strap, and test again. C. Does your helmet
rock forward into your eyes?
If so, unbuckle, tighten the back strap by moving
the slider back toward the ear. Buckle, retigh
ten the chin strap, and test again.
Roll the rubber band down to the buckle.
All four straps must go through the rubber band
and be close to the buckle to prevent the buckle
from slipping.
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More Resources

• For more information on bicycle safety, visit
  the National Highway Traffic Safety
  Administration (NHTSA) Web site at
  www.nhtsa.dot.gov

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Final Words

• Have fun riding, but remember to be safe.
• Follow the rules of bike riding, especially when
  riding on the street.
  
• Always tell your parents where your going, who
  you are with, and when you will be home.
  
• Can anyone tell me why the last statement is SO
  IMPORTANT?

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Resources

• Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI)
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  (NHTSA)
  
• Governor's Traffic Safety Committee
• New York State Department of Transportation