It’s hardly surprising to learn that more than 70 percent of children ages 5 to 14 ride bicycles. That’s close to 28 million kids out there pedaling and having fun. Therefore it’s not hard to guess that kids also experience plenty of bicycle-related injuries. But as Ira Riklis can tell you, the statistics beyond that are sobering. Children in that age group account for 21 percent of all bicycle-related deaths. More than half of those deaths are due to traumatic head injuries.
Ira Riklis became aware of these difficult facts years back when he was approached by a local child-safety organization in Charlotte, North Carolina seeking help in preventing some of these deaths. It turns out there’s a simple way to cut these injuries: well-fitted bicycle helmets. He graciously provided local children and their families with 5,000 helmets. But that’s just a drop in the bucket in what’s needed around the country. National estimates are that 25 percent—at most—of children wear properly fitted helmets. So if you’re a parent or grandparent or even the friend of a family with a young bicycle rider don’t bet against the odds. Make sure that child gets a good helmet!