| (NC)-Are your kids safe when riding on wheels - | | | | bicycles on the road. They do not have the physical |
| bicycles, scooters, skateboards or in-line skates? Safe | | | | skills or the judgment to stay safe in traffic. Children |
| Kids Canada, a national child safety program, has | | | | over 10 need good training and lots of practice |
| launched the "Got Wheels - Get a Helmet!" campaign | | | | before they can ride on the road. Kids need to |
| this spring. Safe Kids Canada urges Canadians to | | | | practice these skills with adult supervision in safe |
| follow these three tips to keep their children safe: | | | | places. |
| 1. Make sure your child wears a helmet that fits | | | | 9. Supervise children until at least eight years of age. |
| correctly, as well as other protective gear. | | | | Know your child's abilities. |
| 2. - Bike: bike helmet. | | | | 10. - Most injuries on wheels happen because children |
| 3. - Scooter: a bike helmet, elbow pads and knee | | | | lose control and fall. Children need to practice |
| pads. | | | | controlling their equipment, and they need your |
| 4. - In-line skates: a bike helmet, wrist pads, elbow | | | | guidance. |
| pads and knee pads. | | | | 11. - Your child needs to learn basic skills, such as |
| 5. - Skateboard: a skateboard helmet, wrist pads, | | | | controlling speed and turns, braking, balancing and |
| elbow pads and knee pads. | | | | avoiding obstacles. |
| 6. Make sure your child rides or skates in a safe | | | | 12. - Reinforce safety rules while you supervise. |
| environment - away from cars and other vehicles. | | | | 13. - Sometime between the ages of 8 and 10, your |
| 7. - Scooters, in-line skates, and skateboards do not | | | | child will develop the coordination and judgment |
| belong on the road. | | | | required to ride or skate safely without your |
| 8. - Bicycles are classed as vehicles, but research | | | | supervision - but not near traffic. |
| shows that children under 10 should not ride their | | | | |