Our children’s safety is paramount, and with summer holidays on the horizon, it won’t be long before they’re zooming about on their bikes and scooters with their pals.
One of the most heart-warming sights for any mother is seeing her little ones enjoying themselves in the fresh air – but if they’re not kitted out to protect against accidents, it can all go wrong in the blink of an eye.
Indeed, our generation has grown up with the message that helmets, elbow pads and knee pads are the required uniform of any child scooting or cycling around their park – which is why the latest statistics from the States are so alarming.
According to a new survey from the US, almost a whopping 40 per cent of parents have admitted that their child doesn’t wear a helmet while playing on a bicycle, a scooter, roller skates, a skateboard or other similar outdoor toys.
The survey was carried out across 1,600 parents, with each one sharing feedback on their child’s safety habits during play. And while the statistic surrounding the number of children who don’t wear helmets is worrying, the reasons behind it are even more concerning.
According to the statistics, released by Safe Kids Worldwide in conjunction with Nationwide’s Make Safe Happen campaign, 47 per cent of parents admitted their children didn’t wear helmets because they didn’t think it was necessary. Others, meanwhile, cited the fact that their children simply didn’t want to wear a helmet!
Commenting on the findings, Mike Boyd of Nationwide said: “The number of kids still getting hurt is far too high – especially considering that many of these injuries could be avoided by simply wearing a helmet and other safety equipment.”
So, what measures should parents be taking when their children are setting off to participate in wheeled activities? Torine Creppy of Safe Kids Worldwide followed up with some tips.
“We know that kids follow their parents’ lead, and if they see their parents wearing their helmets, it’s much more likely they’ll do so as well,” she said.
“And just making sure that kids have a comfortable, properly fitted helmet will do wonders to keep that helmet in place and give kids a safe ride.”
So, there you have it, mums – safety precautions are so important, and a helmet could protect your precious little one from a potentially dangerous injury.
