Bicyclists gearing up for the coming of spring

It’s getting warmer and many people have grabbed their bicycles and are getting ready for another sunny day, albeit a little warmer day.

But all sports have a risk of injury.

In addition to the fun enjoyed by adults, bicycling is the most popular outdoor activity among youths: about 90 percent of children aged 10 to 14 are cyclists.

How do bicycle injuries happen?

For both adults and children, most serious bicycle crashes happen close to home on quiet streets. The vast majority of bicycle crashes do not involve motor vehicles. The majority of all injury-producing bicycle mishaps happen when a cyclist falls or runs into something like a pothole, a post, a pedestrian or another bicycle.

Injury prevention tips

All cyclists share the responsibility of safe cycling. Learn the skills and the rules necessary to protect yourself and others on the road and pathways.

• Always wear an approved bicycle helmet.

• Take a bicycle safety course from a trained instructor.

• Stop before riding into traffic from a driveway, sidewalk, alley or parking lot.

• Look left, right and left again before proceeding.

• Ride on the right side of the road with traffic. Find out your community’s rules regarding riding on the sidewalks.

• Obey all traffic signs and signals. Young cyclists are encouraged to walk their bicycles across busy intersections.

• Look back over your left shoulder and yield to traffic coming from behind before moving into traffic.

• Wear bright and reflective clothing.

• Be sure your bicycle has reflectors and a working bell or horn.

Got brain?

Bicycle crashes are the leading cause of brain injury to school-age children. A brain injury is not like a broken bone…it doesn’t fully heal. Brain injury can lead to death or permanent disability.

Survivors with brain injury may suffer seizures, intellectual and memory impairment, and personality changes. Many years ago, my wife suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident, and her doctor told her matter-of-fact, “Once you touch the brain, you’re never the same.”

Helmet protection is priceless. Your brain, your life and your future are at stake. Research shows that safety approved bicycle helmets reduce the risk of brain injury by more than 85 percent. Helmets today are designed to look good and feel great. They are light, cool, comfortable, affordable, attractive and easy to wear. In any event, you always need to wear a helmet wherever you ride. All cyclists crash eventually and even a low speed fall on a bicycle path can cause a brain injury.Getting into the helmet habit

• Cyclists who choose their own helmets are more likely to wear them. Choose a helmet that you will enjoy wearing. Allow your children to choose their own helmets, but make sure they meet the standards and the child meets the recommended age group.

• Start the habit early. As soon as a child gets their first set of wheels, whether it is a tricycle, a training bicycle, or a bicycle trailer, they should wear a helmet for every ride.

• As a parent, always insist your child wear a helmet. The rule is simple…no helmet, no bicycle.

• Be an example for others. Wear your helmet for every ride.

• Talk to others about the role helmets play in preventing bicycle-related brain injuries.

Choosing a Helmet

• Use a bicycle helmet. Bicycle helmets are safety tested for the types of falls that happen when bicycling. Hockey, football or other sports helmets are not effective at preventing bicycle-related brain injuries and are not for use when cycling.

• Make sure it meets safety standards.

• Make sure it fits. Read the owners guide or ask an experience rider how to know if the helmet fits properly if you do not already know how to tell.

• Replace your helmet every five years even if it hasn’t been in a crash. UV rays can weaken your helmet.

• And remember…a helmet that has been in a crash must be replaced even if it does not appear to be damaged.

Christian Hartley is the training officer, public information officer, and a lieutenant with the Houston Fire Department. Email him at hartley@myopinionmatters.org with any questions or comments.