Make Sure Young Ride on Safe Side

Our 7-year-old has taken up bicycle riding and loves it. But surprising to me, she’s one of the few youngsters I see on wheels wearing a helmet.

I mistakenly thought almost everybody wore a helmet these days. A new federal study shows 84% of children who ride a bicycle own a helmet, but about half aren’t wearing them.

And that’s too bad, because helmets are safer than ever. Last March, for the first time, all bicycle helmets manufactured here or imported to the U.S. were required to meet new federal standards, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Experts say head injuries from bicycle crashes can be reduced by 85% through helmet use.

Last year, according to the commission, 900 people died because of bicycle crashes. But 567,000 were sent to emergency rooms because of bicycle-related injuries. About 350,000 were children, and among those, 130,000 suffered head injuries. The majority were without helmets.

“More children, ages 5 to 14, go to emergency rooms for injuries associated with bicycles than with any other sport,” the commission states in one report.

But here’s something I found surprising from Nilda Berndt, the Placentia Police Department’s crime prevention officer:

“At least one-third of the youngsters who do wear helmets aren’t doing themselves any good, because they’re wearing them improperly.”

The strap needs to be tight under the chin, and the helmet down on the head, not riding high on the back of the head, which some youngsters think looks more cool.

Other tips from experts:

* It’s best for a child not to ride at night, even with good reflectors on the bicycle.

* Check the brakes before heading out, as well as the tires.

* Go with the traffic flow wherever you’re riding. On the street, obey all traffic laws. And at a park, go the same direction as everyone else.

* Be aware of traffic around you--especially driveways, where someone pulling out might not see a small child on a bicycle.

* Stay alert: Keep an eye out for obstacles in your path.

If your child is riding at a park with a playground, as mine does, here’s a stern warning from the experts: Make sure the child does not wear the helmet onto the playground. There’s too much danger of the helmet strap getting caught and strangling or injuring a child.

Adult bike riders should never carry a child younger than 1 on their bicycle. Any children you carry, make sure they’re wearing a helmet.

Another piece of advice makes sense, but frankly, one I never thought about: Children on tricycles should wear helmets too.

Here’s a tip I discovered quite by accident in buying a helmet. I got a bright pink one because that’s my daughter’s favorite color. But it turns out that helmet stands out like a rainbow all over the park. If she’s riding across the park from me, I never lose sight of her because of that helmet. Buy something bright and shiny to help keep your youngster in sight.

Berndt, from the Placentia police adds this warning to parents: If your youngster is caught without a helmet, you the parent, will be cited. Usually it’s like a fix-it ticket, in which you have to prove to the police that you’ve bought a helmet.

We don’t do it to harass youngsters, Berndt said: “We stop them because we know that helmets save lives.”

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Readers may reach Hicks by calling (714) 564-1049 or e-mail to jerry.hicks@latimes.com.