Public Service Announcement
ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET WHEN RIDING A BICYCLE!
The other day my girls were out riding their bikes up and down the street. I was on the porch watching them and reading a book. I decided to go inside to get something, and since the girls are 11 and 8, I thought they would be fine. Well, I was only inside for a few minutes and, as I was heading back out the door, my neighbor's daughter greeted me on the porch. She said, "You have a kid down in the street." I looked over, and sure enough, there was Emily sitting in the street next to her bike. As I hurried over to her, I tried to assess the situation. She didn't appear to be too badly hurt--just mostly scared. She had a few scrapes and a growing bruise on her left knee. When I asked her what had happened, she told me that she was going fast down the street (her first mistake) and her front bicycle tire had hit a rock. That pretty much stopped her and sent her flying over the handlebars! She said her head did hit the street, but not very hard.
All I can say is that I am thanking God for bicycle helmets! There is no way of knowing how seriously she could have been injured, but it is probably safe to say that had she not been wearing that helmet, we would have been taking a trip to the ER. My kids have never balked at wearing their helmets; it is just something they have to do, just like wearing a seat belt in the car. Now they will probably be very outspoken about the advantages of helmet-wearing.
So, I just want to say that if your kids haven't worn helmets in the past, it is time to head to the store and buy helmets for each of them. This was a freak accident that could happen to anyone. Don't let the unthinkable happen to your child.
4 comments:
When my little brother was 6 a one-eyed driver clipped his back bicycle tire and knocked him into the street. We didn't have helmets then (1973), and my brother was in a coma for 3 days. It has had a permanent effect on his brain. I'm so thankful your girls were wearing helmets!!!
Wow. I'm so glad your little girl is OK. This is such an important message. Thank you for reminding us all.
Ouch! I'm glad they were wearing helmets! You might think about getting her a new one because I think they're only good for one hit then you need to replace them.
I've heard that, too, but I don't think she hit very hard. I checked the helmet over very carefully and I couldn't even find a scratch on it.
I am always amazed at the number of kids I see who are not wearing helmets. And I have heard so many parents say, "Well, I rode bikes all the time when I was a kid and nothing ever happened to me." I just think that is an awful big risk to take with your precious child when it is so easy to just put the helmet on. It only takes one time, as Jan illustrated above.
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