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Bicycling continues to be a very popular activity in our region for children and adults. Additionally, inline skating, skateboarding and scootering continue to grow in popularity.
While all these activities provide a great form of exercise, wheeled sports are associated with more childhood injuries than any other consumer product except the automobile.
Here are some additional injury statistics concerning wheeled sports activities:
- In 2008, 84 children ages 14 and under were killed in cycle-related incidents.
- In 2009, over 200,000 children were treated in emergency departments for cycle- related injuries.
- In 2009, approximately 69,000 children ages 14 and under were injured while using skateboards, inline skates or scooters.
- Head-injury is the leading cause of wheeled sports-related deaths and the most important determinant of permanent disability after a crash.
Here's the good news:
- Since 1988, bicycle injury deaths have decreased by 78%.
- Nationwide, the use of wheeled sports helmets by children has increased from 15% to nearly 45%.
- Bicycle helmets have been proven to decrease the risk of a brain injury by almost 90%.
Wearing a helmet for wheeled sports is the single most effective way to prevent serious injury or death.
- A helmet is a necessity, not an accessory. Buy a helmet that meets or exceeds the safety standards developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Wear a helmet every time and everywhere you bike, skate or scooter.
- There are different types of helmets:
 This is a bicycle helmet. If you fall off your bike, you are most likely to hit the side or front of your head. This helmet protects those parts of your head. It is for bike riding only – it can not be used for any other wheeled sports!
 This is a multi-sport helmet. It can be used for all non-motorized wheeled sports (inline skating, skateboarding, scooter, bicycling). If you fall when doing some of these activities, you are most likely to hit the back, side or front of your head. This helmet protects those parts of your head.
This is a toddler helmet. It is usually used by children under the age of six. This helmet looks a lot like a multi-sport helmet because little kids need to protect the back of their heads!
- Wear a bicycle helmet correctly. A bicycle helmet should fit comfortably and snugly, but not too tightly. It should sit on top of your head in a level position, and it should not rock forward and backward. The straps should always be secured.
How to Fit a Bike Helmet
 
  
- Learn the rules of the road and obey all traffic laws. Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, not against it. Use appropriate hand signals. Respect traffic signals. Stop at all stop signs and stop lights and stop and look both ways before entering a street. Refer to Grand Forks City Code on bicycle laws.
- Cycling should be restricted to sidewalks and bike paths until a child is age 10 and able to show how well he or she rides and observes the basic rules of the road. Adult supervision is essential until the traffic skills and judgment thresholds are reached by each child.
- Safe Kids Grand Forks offers helmets for sale to people of all ages at a reduced price. Our goal is to educate customers in the proper use of the helmets and their importance. To schedule an appointment for a fitting, email polsen@altru.org.
Safe Kids Grand Forks and local McDonalds restaurants have teamed up each summer to offer the "Cone Head Program". This incentive program has Grand Forks Police Officers "reward" kids seen wearing helmets with "Cone Head Citation". This includes a card for a free ice cream cone at McDonalds. Wear your helmet and maybe you'll be "caught" too.
This program is also offered in Larimore, ND thanks to The Scoops & Lansons Drive Inn. Safe Kids Grand Forks has partnered with Larimore Police Department to "catch" kids being safe in this community. Safe Kids has also partnered with the Northwood Police Department to offer a similar program.
Safe Kids Grand Forks, in partnership with agencies throughout the region, offers wheeled sport safety education and the sale of safety items at public events and schools. These events include:
- Safety on Wheels: In partnership with the Optimist Club of Grand Forks and the Altru Health System, Safe Kids offers head injury prevention presentations to 3rd grade classrooms in Greater Grand Forks. Following the presentations, all students in the school are given the opportunity to purchase helmets at a reduced price.
Within the following week, the Optimist Club conducts a bike rodeo at these schools. A bike rodeo is a safety course that teaches children the skills they need to ride safety and explain to them why it is important to wear their helmet each and every time they are on a bicycle.
In recent years, Safe Kids has been able to extend the head injury presentations and helmet sales to schools throughout the region including Manvel, Thompson, Larimore, Emerado, Crookston and Northwood. If you are interested in having this program brought to your school, contact Safe Kids Grand Forks.
- Community Head Injury Education and Helmet Sales: Safe Kids Grand Forks attends public events throughout the spring, summer and fall to provide education and helmet sales. Some of these events include:
- Local and regional health and activity fairs
- Grand Forks Park District baseball/softball games
- Grand Forks Park District Summerthing
- Turtle River State Park events
- Rollin’ on the River inline skate events.
- Regional Farm Safety Camps
Safe Kids Grand Forks offers the sale of wheeled sports helmets and protective pads (knee, elbow, wrist sets) at our office. Please note, you do need to make an appointment for a fitting as we are frequently away from the office at community events:
Our prices are as follows:
- Toddler helmets (pink or blue) - $8.00
- Bike helmets (blue, black, red, purple) - $8.00
- Multi-sport helmets (blue, black, white) - $12.00
- Knee, elbow, wrist pad sets - $12.00
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For more information, contact:
Carma Hanson
Safe Kids Coordinator
Altru Health System
P.O. Box 6002
860 Columbia Road
Grand Forks, ND 58206-6002
Phone: 701.780.1489
Fax: 701.780.6655
E-mail: chanson@altru.org
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Phone: 701.780.1489