You can't beat a summer day, a bike and a cool bottle of water. But too many bikers leave safety plans behind. The result is about 900 bicycle- related deaths and another half a million injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms every year.
Don Bower, a human development specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service, urges families to talk about how to bike safely.
"The most important thing is to wear a helmet," Bower said. "Using bicycle helmets properly can reduce head injuries by up to 85 percent."
Bower said the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests these bicycle helmet safety tips:
* Make sure your helmet meets standards. Check the label.
* Wear the helmet flat on your head, not tilted back at an angle.
* Get a helmet that fits snugly and doesn't block your view.
* Always wear the helmet with the chin strap firmly buckled. The strap should fit securely and stay fastened. No matter how hard you twist or pull, the helmet should stay on your head, and the strap should stay buckled and secure.
* Don't use a helmet after it has been involved in an accident. It could be cracked. Destroy the helmet, get a new one or ask the manufacturer to inspect it to see if it needs to be replaced.
Your safety job isn't over once you strap the helmet on.
"See and be seen," Bower said. "Wear bright fluorescent colors during the day. Flashing rear lights help drivers see you. If you must ride at night, equip your bike with a headlight and taillight, and wear reflective clothing."
Remember the rules of the road. Ride with the traffic, not against it. Be aware of traffic around you. Obey traffic laws. Check your brakes, tires, gears and headlight regularly.
"Bikes can be fun and good exercise," Bower said, "but only when you remember your responsibility as a safe rider."
