[December 18, 2012]

Buying Your Little One a Bike for the Holidays? Ohio AAP Reminds Parents - and Santa Claus - to Include Bike Helmets with Gifts

With the holidays quickly approaching, The Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (Ohio AAP) wants to remind parents - and Santa Claus - to ensure that they promote safe riding when giving a bicycle as a gift this year. The Ohio AAP urges gift-givers to take advantage of their child's excitement of receiving a new bike by including a bike helmet with it.

"Not only is it important to promote safe riding, but this is a great opportunity to make wearing a bike helmet cool," said Melissa Wervey Arnold, Executive Director for the Ohio AAP. "They come in an array of sizes, colors, designs and graphics, so there is a helmet to please every child!"

The Ohio AAP is also reminding parents that helmets aren't simply for bike-riding. It's particularly important that children receive helmets for Christmas so tat they can be worn during cold weather activities as well; such as sledding, snowboarding or skiing.

Universal use of bicycle helmets by children ages 4 to 15 could prevent between 135 and 155 deaths, between 39,000 and 45,000 head injuries and between 18,000 and 55,000 scalp and face injuries annually. In 2010, the number of people injured by not wearing a bike helmet was 51,000, enough people to fill Nationwide Arena in Columbus 2� times, and apart from the automobile, bicycles are tied to more childhood injuries than any other consumer product including trampolines, ladders and swimming pools.

For more information on bike helmet safety and to follow the Put a Lid on It! Bike Helmet Safety Awareness Campaign, visit the campaign's Facebook (News - Alert) page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Put-A-Lid-On-It/105563589546395.

The Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (Ohio AAP) promotes the health, safety and well being of children and adolescents so they may reach their full potential. The Ohio AAP works to accomplish this by addressing the needs of children, their families, and their communities, and by supporting Chapter members through advocacy, education, research, service, and improving the systems through which they deliver pediatric care.

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