Fall 2023 5 Yankton Bike Helmet Day Yankton Medical Clinic, P.C., also participates in Bike Helmet Day. Pediatrician David Withrow, MD, has played a key role in the clinic’s participation for several years. In addition, medical students from USD Sanford School of Medicine volunteer to help get the area’s 250-plus students properly fitted with new helmets. The Yankton Rotary club is also a valuable partner in this important annual event for youth in the Yankton community. Volunteer Craig Thompson works to make sure that a Vermillion second grader’s new bicycle helmet fits properly. of head injuries by about 85% among both children and adults. The organization offers these tips to encourage kids to make helmet wearing a habit: 1 Establish the helmet habit early. Have your children wear helmets as soon as they start to ride scooters or tricycles and if they are a passenger on the back of an adult’s bike. If kids learn to wear helmets whenever they ride something with wheels, it becomes a habit for a lifetime. 2 Wear a helmet yourself. Children learn best by watching you. 3 Talk to your kids about why you want them to protect their heads. For example: Bikes are vehicles, not toys. You love and value them and their intelligence and need to protect them. They can permanently hurt their brains or even die of head injuries. 4 Let them choose and decorate their helmet. Kids are more likely to wear a helmet if they can pick a favorite. Just check the label to make sure the helmet meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s bicycle safety standards and that it fits correctly. Encourage them to decorate their helmet to express their individuality. Adding reflective stickers and LED lights can also make it easier for drivers to see your child. 5 Reward your kids for wearing helmets. Praise them and give them special treats or privileges when they wear their helmets without having to be told. 6 Don’t let children ride their bikes unless they wear their helmets. Be consistent. If you allow them to ride occasionally without their helmets, they won’t believe that helmet use really is important. Tell your children they have to find another way to get where they are going if they don’t want to use their helmets. 7 Encourage your children’s friends to wear helmets. Peer pressure can be used in a positive way if several families in the neighborhood all get in the habit of wearing a helmet. Remember this Head injuries happen not only on streets but also on sidewalks, driveways, bike paths and in parks. You can’t predict when a fall from a bike will occur, so it’s important to wear a helmet on every ride. Caring for kids Learn more about our pediatricians, clinic locations and appointment information at www.yankton medicalclinic.com/health -services/pediatrics.
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