CARLYLE - Riding a bicycle is a fun, eco-friendly and healthy way to get around, but it comes with its risks, especially if safety measures are not taken seriously.
One of the most important and often overlooked aspects of bicycle safety is wearing a helmet. A simple habit like strapping on a helmet can be the difference between a mild injury and a life-threatening accident.
On Sept. 12, 107 kids from kindergarten to Grade 2, from both the Carlyle Elementary and Manor Schools, attended a bike safety event in Carlyle.
Volunteers from the Carlyle and District Lions Club, CFY Family Resource Centre, Carlyle RCMP and the Carlyle and RM 63 Fire Department hosted an assortment of fun and educational stations under the instruction of the Saskatchewan Health Authority's acquired brain injury team and public health.
Lions Club president Craig Savill organized helmets sponsored by both the Lions Club and the Carlyle Home Hardware, while snacks were provided by Michael's Coffee Shop and Bakery. Fifty-six helmets were given to the Grade 1 students from Carlyle and Manor.
The theme of the day was bike safety, with a huge emphasis on wearing a bike helmet, using the "2 V 1" salute. Children were shown how to wear the helmet properly, no more than two fingers above the eyebrows, with the strap making a V just under each ear, and no more than one finger of space between their chin and the buckle.
Children practised stopping and starting, using street signs and the rules of the road, how to turn safely, and how to watch for cars, especially those reversing in driveways.
Younger children tend to wear their helmets more than adults or their older siblings, however it is good practice for people of all ages to wear a helmet no matter what.
Head injuries are one of the most serious outcomes of bicycle accidents. According to health studies, cyclists who wear helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 50 per cent and fatal head injuries by 65 per cent.
Helmets are designed to absorb the force of impact, protecting the brain from serious damage that could result from falls or collisions.
In a crash, a helmet acts as a shield between the skull and hard surfaces like asphalt or vehicles, minimizing the trauma.
Kids are also encouraged to wear reflective gear and obey the rules of the road.
Although Saskatchewan is the only province west of Quebec without some sort of mandatory helmet law, some towns and cities have enacted a law requiring helmets for people under the age of 18.
The RCMP, Carlyle Lions, CFY Family Centre, Carlyle and R.M. # 63 Fire Department wish to remind people to wear their helmets.
