Guest Blogger:Samantha of Medtopicwriter"The Nuts and Bolts of Bike Safety"

My guest today is Samantha Gluck of Medtopicwriter. Samantha is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists. At Meditopicwriter she addresses a variety of healthcare-related topics in a format that the layperson can easily understand. I for one am grateful for her advice. There's an entire collection of pediatric health articles that parents will want to check out!

Samantha owns All Media Freelance, LLC where she works as a professional copywriter, blogger, ghost writer, and contributing author for several online publications including the prestigious Houston Chronicle. She also writes for Balanced Living Magazine. You can learn more about Samantha by reading her bio.

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Let's get to know Samantha better:

Samantha lives in Spring, Texas with her beautiful, heroic hubs Duane and their 7 kids (4 Samantha's and 3 his)  — Connor, 16; Iain, 14; Liam, 10; Sarah, 8  Taylor, 14; Tatum, 9; Justice, 7. They also have several pets: Hemi – 8 month old “puppy” who is HUGE – he’s half Siberian Husky and half Pitbull; three kitties – Oreo, Milkyway, and Katniss; and three turtles – Hooks, Wolverine, & Mario.

Favourite word:  

Love – It’s my favorite word because it encompasses what really living is all about -- LOVE

Favourite family outing:

Going to the beach in Galveston or skiing in Utah with hubs and kids

Favourite song:

"Dare you to Move" by Switchfoot

Favourite emotion:

Joy –because it’s what I experience when I see God in the faces of my husband and children

Favorite color: 

Pink – because it’s just so me

Favorite of my posts:

Are Doctors with a Social Media Presence Better Healers?

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The Nuts and Bolts of Bike Safety
by Samantha Gluck of Meditopicwriter

Why is bike safety important in general and how can wearing a helmet help? Bicycle accidents, especially for kids, include falls, collisions with stationary objects, collisions with pedestrians, or collisions with other bikes. About one-half the injuries to children under the age of 10 involve the head or face. A head injury can lead to permanent brain injury and this is why it is important for all children to wear a bike helmet.

Wearing a helmet doesn't mean riders can act carelessly, but a helmet will provide some protection for the face, head, and brain in case an accident does occur. Understanding bicycle safety can reduce the risk of severe injuries and in some cases, death. Teaching proper bicycle safety to children can prevent both minor and serious injuries, elevate personal safety awareness, and save many lives. Parents can connect with their children in a powerful way by teaching cycling safety to them.

Safety Check

Before pushing the pedal to the metal, follow these simple tips to keep biking adventures enjoyable for the whole family:

• Wear a properly fitted helmet. Make sure the helmet fits your child and that your child knows how to put it on correctly. The helmet should sit on top of the head in a level position with the helmet straps buckled.
• Check your equipment. Before riding, inflate tires and check to ensure the brakes work properly.
• Make certain your child is visible. Whether it is daytime, dawn or dusk, have your child wear neon, fluorescent or other bright colors so pedestrians, other bicyclists, and drivers can see him. Teach your child not to assume a car’s driver can see him simply because the child can see the driver.
• Maintain control of the bicycle. Keep hands on the handlebars and ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars.
• Avoid riding double and discourage stunt riding. These actions create an unnecessary opportunity for accidents.
• Go with the flow. Ride on the right side of the road in the same direction as other vehicles.
• Obey all traffic laws. A bicycle is a vehicle. Encourage your child to obey all traffic signs, signals and lane markings.
• Stay alert at all times. Teach your child to use his eyes and ears to watch out for potholes, loose gravel, puddles and traffic.
• Use appropriate hand signals. Your child should always properly signal before making a turn or moving in and out of traffic. Learn the proper hand signals and teach them to your child.
• Children do as you do, not as you say. They learn best by observing you, the parent, so whenever you ride, wear your helmet and observe traffic laws too!

Head Injuries

Head injuries represent the most common injuries related to bike riding. In the event that a head injury or accident does take place, look for these symptoms to help determine the urgency and extent of the injury: 

• Scalp swelling - Scalp swelling is common. If the skin is not broken, it may develop into a large lump from bleeding or swelling under the skin. Frequently, an outward swelling where a bump occurred does not pose a serious danger, but an indention in the head at the point of impact requires immediate medical attention. 
• Loss of consciousness - Only about 5 percent of children and adolescents with a mild head injury pass out (lose consciousness) and usually just for a brief period of time (less than one minute). Watch closely for loss of consciousness, or you may miss it. 
• Headache - Headache occurs in about 20 percent of children and adolescents after a head injury that necessitates medical attention. 
• Vomiting - Approximately 10 percent of children and adolescents have at least one episode of vomiting after a mild to serious head injury. Vomiting may indicate the presence of a concussion, a condition requiring medical attention. 
• Seizures - Less than one percent of children and adolescents have a seizure immediately after a head injury. Watch your child carefully for signs of seizure.

If your child experiences any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Many of these symptoms can indicate the presence of a concussion, which is damage to the brain caused by a sudden blow or other force. Left untreated, concussions can develop into far more serious and permanent brain damage or death.

Biking provides an active means of transportation for children and affords them the personal power to pedal to school, the neighborhood park, or a nearby friend’s home. Proper instruction and active parental supervision can protect children from potential harm when bike riding. Parents should ride along with their children often; biking as a family can enhance fitness as well as the parent-child bond. Enjoy the outdoors on a bike, but always remember that safety is the best route.

Bike safety training resources for parents:

Kids’ Health Bike Safety

National Highway Traffic Safety Association

Dr.Tummy.com Bicycle Safety