After School Parents' Zone - After School All Stars

Spring is here! Longer days and warmer temperatures are beckoning us outside. For many kids, this means riding bikes, skateboarding, and meeting friends at the playground. After a long winter indoors, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of spring and forget about safety. Before turning your kids loose, here are a few reminders:

Bicycle Safety
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, bicycling is the leading cause of recreational injuries to children ages 5-14. While most bicycle injuries are just bruises, nearly 200,000 kids go to the emergency department each year as a result of bike accident injuries. Some injuries are serious enough to cause death, usually from head injuries. Follow these tips to keep kids safe and injury-free:

Wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet at all times, even when going only a short distance.
o Choose a helmet with a sticker that says it meets standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
o Make sure the helmet is not too big or too small. The fitting pads inside the helmet should touch the head all the way around.
o The helmet should be worn level to the head and should cover the forehead.
o Always fasten the straps when wearing the helmet.
o Adjust straps to make sure the helmet cannot twist on the head or be pulled off.
o Replace damaged helmets. If your child falls on the helmet or drops or throws the helmet on the ground, it needs to be replaced, even if it doesn't look damaged.
o Never wear a hat under a bicycle helmet.
Make sure the bike is the correct size for the rider.
o Rider should be able to stand with both feet flat on the ground when straddling the top bar of the bike.
o When straddling the bike there should be 1-3 inches of space between the top bar and the rider's body.
Keep bicycles properly maintained.
o Check the brakes to be sure they work well and aren't sticking.
o Make sure the seat, handlebars, and wheels fit tightly.
o Check and oil the chain regularly.
o Check tires to make sure they have enough air and are at the right pressure.
o Make sure lights are in working order.
Make sure your child will be visible to drivers.
o Instruct them to wear bright clothes.
o Put reflectors on the bike and helmet.
o Don't let them ride at night.
Instruct your children to avoid common road hazards and conditions that can lead to falls:
o Uneven or slippery surfaces
o Wet leaves
o Large puddles
o Storm grates
o Curbs
o Changes in road surfaces
o Smaller children who can get in the way
Set guidelines for where they are allowed to ride.
Make sure they wear closed, flat shoes and never ride barefoot. Sandals, shoes with heels, and cleats don't grip the pedals.
Avoid loose pant legs, backpack straps, or shoelaces that can get caught in the bike's chain.
Don't allow children to wear headphones while riding. Doing so may prevent them from hearing horns or other warning sounds.
Ride only in safe areas and at safe times.
Teach bicycle etiquette, laws, and safe riding practices, including:
o Keep an eye out for cars and trucks
o Always stop to check for traffic in both directions when leaving a driveway, alley, or curb.
o Cross at intersections and following traffic signals. Never pull out between parked cars because drivers can't see you coming.
o Walk the bike when crossing a busy street.
o Ride on the right-hand side of the street traveling in the same direction as car traffic.
o Use bike lanes or designated bike routes wherever possible.
o Don't ride too close to parked cars because a door may open suddenly.
o Stop at all stop signs and obey red lights.
o When riding with others, stay in a single file line.
o Pass to the left side of other bikers or people on the street, and call out "On your left!" so they know someone's coming.
o Use hand signals to indicate actions to other bikers and drivers.

Skateboarding Safety
Skateboarding can lead to injuries that range from minor cuts and bruises to catastrophic brain injury. Each year in the U.S., skateboarding injuries cause about 50,000 visits to emergency departments and 1500 children and adolescents to be hospitalized. One third of skateboarding injuries happen to inexperienced riders who have been skateboarding less then one week. Skateboarding safety tips include:

Do not allow children under age 5 to ride a skateboard. Children aged 6 to 10 should not ride without close adult supervision.
Use a quality skateboard that matches your child's experience level. Ask an expert at a professional skate shop for help choosing the right board.
o Skateboards have three parts: the deck (board), trucks (mechanism to which wheels are attached), and wheels. Shorter decks are easier to balance and handle and are best for beginners.
o Skateboards are made with various characteristics for all types of riding including slalom, freestyle and speed.
o Some skateboards are rated for the user's weight.
Keep skateboards in good condition.
o Inspect a skateboard before every ride.
o Look for problems that need repair such as: loose, broken or cracked parts, sharp edges on metal boards, a slippery top surface, wheels with nicks and cracks.
o Get professional help to repair serious defects.
Make sure your child learns the basic skills of skateboarding:
o How to stop properly
o Slowing and turning techniques
o How to fall safely: If you are losing your balance, crouch down on the skateboard so you won't have as far to fall. Try to land on the fleshy parts of your body rather than your arms. Relax and roll.
Make sure pockets are emptied of all hard and sharp objects before skateboarding.
Always require children to use protective equipment, including:
o A quality helmet that meets safety standards of the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission. A properly fitting helmet:
- Is worn flat on the head with the bottom edge parallel to the ground and sits low on the forehead
- Has side straps that form a "V" shape around each ear
- Has a buckle that fastens tightly (there should be room to put only two fingers between the strap and chin)
- Has pads inside that you install or remove so the helmet fits snuggly
- Does not move in any direction when shaking the head
- Does not interfere with movement, vision or hearing
- Replace a helmet when it is damaged, outgrown, at least every five years or sooner if the manufacturer recommends it.
o Wrist guards to support the wrists and reduce the chances of breaking a bone in the event of a fall
o Elbow and knee pads to reduce the severity of cuts and scrapes and prevent gravel burns
o Shoes that are closed and slip-resistant
o Consider goggles to keep debris out eyes
Skateboard only on smooth pavement, preferably in a supervised skate park. Avoid irregular surfaces, rocks and other debris. Always screen the area for rocks and other debris before skateboarding.
Stay aware from traffic.
Do not use homemade skateboard ramps.
Avoid wet pavement, and never use a skateboard in wet weather.
Never hold onto the side or rear of a moving vehicle while riding a skateboard. You could fall or be thrown into traffic if the vehicle suddenly slows, stops or turns.
Avoid skateboarding in crowded walkways or in darkness.
Be careful with tricks and jumps. Don't take chances by skateboarding faster than experience allows, or faster than is safe for conditions, or faster than the speed of other skateboarders. Tricks and jumps should only be practiced in a controlled environment, such as a skate park that has adult supervision and appropriate access to emergency medical care.
Do not use headphones while skateboarding.
Never put more than one person on a skateboard.
Be considerate of fellow skateboarders, especially those who are younger and/or less skilled.
Know what to do in an emergency. Don't panic. Call 911 for medical assistance or an ambulance.

Playground Safety
The National Center for Injury and Prevention Control of the CDC reports that each year in the United States, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related injuries. Teach your children the following tips to stay safe:

Slides

Only one person should slide down a slide at any time. Do not begin sliding until the person in front of you is on the ground and has moved away from the slide.
Always slide in a seated position and facing forward. NEVER slide down headfirst.
Move away from the slide bottom as soon as you reach the ground.

Swings

Sit down while swinging.
Only let one person on a swing at a time.
Don't get off a swing until it stops.
Be careful when walking in front of moving swings. Stay far enough away to avoid being hit accidentally.

Spring Rockers

Only one child at a time should ride a spring rocker.
Sit down while rocking.

Other Hazards

Play only on dry equipment. Wet surfaces can cause slips and falls.
Don't climb over any guardrails. They are there to protect you.
Climb stairs or steps slowly.
Wear proper footwear. Don't go barefoot, or you could get a splinter or a cut.
Hold onto the handrails.
Avoid climbing or sliding on equipment support poles or beams.
Be careful touching metal surfaces when the sun is hot. Sitting on a hot slide or touching other surfaces can burn skin.

Guidelines for parents:

Make sure children have proper supervision and that they play on age appropriate equipment
Check equipment for hazards such as:
o Splinters
o Sharp points or surfaces
o Corrosion or rotting
o Worn swing hangers, chains, bearings or other worn parts
o Lack of lubrication on moving parts
o Protrusions that can snag clothing, cause tripping or lead to other injury
o Openings that can trap a child's head or limbs
o Unstable or unanchored equipment
o Missing or broken parts
o Loose or missing bolts
o S-hooks that are not entirely closed
o Exposed coils, joints, springs or other mechanisms that could pinch or crush
Check for environmental hazards such as:
o Roots or rocks that could trip a child
o Broken glass and other debris
o Poor drainage areas
o Low trees limb that a child can run into
o Loose or broken tree limbs that could fall and hit or trap a child
Pay attention to the playground surfaces. Surface type is the most important factor in the number and severity of injuries due to falls.
o Hard surfaces such as asphalt and concrete result in the most severe injuries.
o Soil, packed dirt, grass and turf are also not recommended for surfacing. Their shock-absorbing ability can be affected greatly by weather conditions and wear.
o Softer surfaces such as wood mulch or chips, shredded tires, or sand reduce the number and severity of injuries.
o Make sure surfaces are properly maintained. Mats should not be curling or pulled up. Loose materials should not be dispersed to expose underlying hazards such as concrete equipment footings.
Report all hazards to the proper officials so they can be repaired, and keep children away from playgrounds until repairs are made.