atplay Boys Town National Research Hospital
Submitted By: National Safety Council, Greater Omaha Chapter
MEMORIAL DAY RUN
May Is Bike Safety Month
S
pring is here, and it’s time to finally haul the kids’ bikes out of the garage. Dust
2011
Monday, May 30 on the historic Boys Town campus
a few spiderwebs off the helmets and they’re off, right? Except over the winter, while they were busy outgrowing their shoes and coats and everything else, they also outgrew their bikes. Yikes!
As a parent himself, Jim Carvath of the Bike Rack can empathise. “Everybody wants to get their child a bike that will fit them as long as possible, but if it doesn’t fit your child, you’ll pay for that too. They won’t ride it at all, or it won’t be safe, or even if they do ride it, it won’t be fun so they won’t ride as long.” One solution could be a bike with an adjustable handlebar and pedal placement. If the bike does still fit your child, Carvath recommends giving it a quick safety check. Put it into a rack, or hold it off the ground, turn the crank and spin the pedals to make sure the gears work smoothly. If the chain needs to be oiled, he highly recommends bike lubricant. “Don’t use WD-40 or something from the hardware store. Many of those will just attract dirt and grime, which builds up and results in a more expensive tune-up in the long run.” He recommends simply throwing the bike in the car and taking it to a bike shop for a yearly tune-up. Like a car, a little regular maintenance will improve safety and head off expensive repairs down the line. “After sitting for a long time, the tires will be flat, they always are,” Carvath says. “Checking the air pressure regularly makes for a fun, easier ride. Low tires also don’t corner well, which can result in a spill.” Now that the bike’s in shape, are you ready to hit the road? Not quite. The Safety Council stresses the importance of teaching children bicycle safety, including the importance of wearing a properly fitted helmet and learning hand signals. • Children need to wear a helmet on every bike ride, no matter how short. Accidents happen in driveways, on sidewalks and on bike paths, not just on streets. Children learn best by observing you. When you ride your bike, wear your helmet. • When purchasing a helmet, look for a label or sticker that says the helmet meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standard. • A helmet protects your child from serious injury and should always be worn. And remember, wearing a helmet at all times helps children develop the helmet habit. • A helmet should be worn so that it is level on the head, not tipped forward or backward. The strap should be securely fastened, and should not move in any direction. More Tips for Safe Bicycling: • Children should not ride bikes at night. • Obey traffic rules. Cyclists must follow the same rules as motorists. This includes signaling turns half a block before the intersection. In case you forgot: left arm straight out for left turn, forearm up for right turn. • Ride in single file with traffic, not against it. Bicycling two abreast can be dangerous, even on designated bike trails. • When sharing the road, stay as far right as possible, but watch for sewer gratings, debris and opening car doors. • Make safe turns and cross intersections with care. Motorists do not expect you—you must watch out for them! • Be seen by wearing bright clothes. • Equip your bicycle with proper safety equipment. This includes: a red rear reflector; a white front reflector; a red or colorless spoke reflector on the rear wheel; an amber or colorless reflector on the front wheel; and pedal reflectors.
familySPECTRUM
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readonlinenow.com May 2011
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You can walk, run or even stroll . . . just
Get in the Race! • • • • •
400-Meter Kids Run 1-Mile Walk/Run 5-Mile Walk/Run Food, Awards, Prizes, Music! All ages and fitness levels will enjoy the walk, run and family friendly courses.
Something for everyone! FUN!
Presented by: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Performance Automotive Group, Copic Insurance and TD AMERITRADE.
Register online at
MemorialDayRun.com or call 498-6729 for more information
live .love .grow atplay • 23