Just a reminder to always make sure your child wears their helmet when riding a bike. I see a lot of kids riding bikes to school with their helmet unfastened or hanging off the handlebars. My kids know that if I ever saw something like that they would lose their bikes. My ds rode his bike home from school yesterday - alone because his friend he rode to school with got dismissed - and he hit some glass, popped his front tire, went over the handlebars into a stone wall and cracked his helmet. He lost a chunk out of his cheek, had to get a couple of stitches and is pretty bruised up but he is ok. He'd have been a lot worse if that helmet hadn't been on.

By My2cuties on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 09:38 am:

Good reminder, my dd always wears a helmet and pads too.

By Sue3 on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 09:53 am:

When I was a child all the neighborhood kids would ride thier bikes up and down everyones driveways.
Helmets were not heard of then , none of us wore them.
My friend Alex had a bad spill and hit his head on the street curb.
He had a big bump on his head.
We got his Mother and she brought him home to rest.
The next day he died..
All of my kids wear helmets ,even if it is to just ride around in our driveway.
That accident and death of my childhood friend haunts me to this very day.
Colette , I am so glad that your son is o.k.

By Vicki on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 10:03 am:

Wow, I am so glad to hear he had his helmet on. It could have been so much worse!

Dd knows that if I ever see her riding her bike, scooter or roller blades without her helmet on, they would be gone! She has worn a helmet since her tricycle days, so it isn't even an issue. It is habit for her!!

By Kernkate on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 10:08 am:

Colette, so glad your DS is ok. Thats so scary!
My DS who is 10 always wears his helmet.
Good reminder for everyone.

By Colette on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 10:29 am:

He was very cute trying to reassure me that he was ok. He was completely covered in blood - his face, his hands, his bike. "really mum, I'm ok, it's no big deal" etc etc. Now we need to get a new helmet (and a new tube for his tire)

By Bellajoe on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 11:55 am:

Sue! That is such a sad story!

Colette I am so glad your ds is ok....btw my grandmothers name was Colette so whenever i see your name I think of her

Good reminder. I do see so many kids with out bike helmets on. My dh is starting to tell me that the kids don't have to wear them. He doesn't want them to be "uncool" with the other kids. I will have to show him this post.

Luckily my kids want to wear their helmets because they don't want to get hurt.

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 12:26 pm:

You bet my kids wear their bike helmets! They're actually required by law in my state for all kids under 16.

Learn about child safety laws and regulations in your state at SafeKids.org along the right hand column.

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 02:07 pm:

Yikes! Glad he is OK. And this is a great reminder!

By Kay on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 03:39 pm:

Colette, I'm glad he's fine - thank goodness that you've insisted on a helmet. The physicians' association that I manage has a Hard Hats for Little Heads program. Over the last 10 or 12 years, we've been able to fit over 3500 children with free helmets from our organization.

You're a great mom!

By Palmbchprincess on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 03:43 pm:

Colette, I'm glad your DS is ok! We're buying the kids "real" bikes for their birthday this year, and were looking at helmets and pads to go with them.

By Fraggle on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 04:13 pm:

I'm glad to hear your DS is okay. I never wore a helmet as a kid and it seems almost unbelievable to me now. My girls have been wearing helmets since they rode a tricycle and whenever they see someone who is not wearing a helmet they make a very big deal and get very worried about it. We just bought bikes for my DH and me and I always wear my helmet now.

By Jelygu on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 04:19 pm:

I am glad he is ok! Good thing he did have a helmet on.
I don't know how I survived all the falls I took without a helmet.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 04:40 pm:

Everyone in my house wears a helmet, whenever they are on their bike. That includes the ADULTS! I see so many families out riding bikes and the kids have helmets and the parents don't!

Also, make sure the helmet is covering your kids' foreheads! I see way too many helmets way back on a kid's head and they aren't going to help much, if you get thrown forward!

I did fall and hit my head HARD, when I was about 15, back in 1975. I saw stars and briefly blacked out! No one wore helmets in 1975. In fact, I didn't get my first helmet until 1988, after I was married!

By Kym on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 10:54 pm:

Another point, have your helmet fitted to your child, and have regular check ups on it, your local bike shop will do it (they prefer the helmets are purchased from them of course) or your fire department has trained personell for this. We are always amazed at the number of kids we see not only with ill fitting helmets but with them on backwords. Rule of thumb for current helmets the strap should be snug, not digging in, under the fleshy part of chin, and the helmet should fit low on the mid forehead and fit like a baseball helmet.