Summer weather brings
children outdoors more often.
That's why it's especially important to remind parents and children to play safely
while biking or participating in wheeled sports.
Bicycles are associated with more childhood injuries than any other consumer product
except automobiles, and bike-related injuries are especially common during the summer.
Child bicycling deaths increase 45 percent above the monthly average in the summer.
St. Louis County has enacted a
new ordinace requiring helmets for children
under the age of 17. There are free helmets available to county residents.
Click
here for a list of locations
Prevention begins with you! There are a few easy steps that you can take to make
sure kids are safe this summer:
 |
Make sure your child wears a helmet
and other protective gear every time he or she bikes, skates or rides a scooter. |
|
|
Make sure the helmet fits snugly
and does not rock back and forth. It should be centered on top of the head and always
strapped and buckled. |
|
|
Make sure your child's bike is in
good working order. |
|
|
If your child is under 10, make sure
he or she cycles, rides a scooter or skates only on sidewalks, paths or other designated
areas. |
|
|
Teach your child the rules of the
road, including all traffic laws. |
|
|
Download WHEEL Safe
Tips |
Who We Are
The Safe Kids St. Louis Coalition is happy that you
chose to visit our site. We work hard to provide injury prevention for children
ages 0-14 in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Jefferson County, Franklin County,
and Washington County. We collaborate with many agencies to make sure that children
in our area are safe. Please visit the portions that interest you and let us know
if we can be of assistance.
What We Do
Safe Kids Worldwide promotes changes in attitudes, behaviors, laws and the environment
to prevent accidental injury to children. In the United States, we have contributed
to a 45 percent reduction in the child fatality rate from accidental injury –
saving an estimated 38,000 children’s lives. Canada achieved
a 37 percent reduction in child accidental deaths between 1994 and 2003, while the
German child death rate declined 80 percent since 1980 and 75 percent in Austria
between 1983 and 2003. We’ve distributed more than 2.5 million bike helmets
and 250,000 smoke alarms and checked more than 740,000 car seats.
Upcoming Events
(See Calendar Page For More Details)