First Aid - Bicycle Safety Treatment

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Thursday, 07 February 2008

Please call 911 immediately if you are having chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, sudden weakness or numbness, or if you think you have a medical emergency.

Principles of Bicycle Safety

Bicycling training: The best preparation for safe bicycle riding is proper training.
- Common resources include an experienced rider, parent, or community program.
- Often, however, initial training involves simple instruction from parents on balance and pedaling.
- Proper supervision of younger riders is a prerequisite. In fact, it is recommended that younger children ride only in enclosed areas.
Bicycle safety equipment: Early investment in safety equipment such as protective clothing and a helmet can prevent a significant number of injuries.
- Helmets - Extremely important
- Reflective clothing for nighttime or low-visibility conditions
- Bicycle safety equipment (reflectors on frame and wheels)
- Proper bicycle selection
- Bicycle maintenance
Bicycling safety guidelines: Consideration of these ideas can further reduce the risk of a bicycle accident.
- Use a bicycle only in a way that is appropriate for the age of the rider.
- Be aware of the need for experience and skill before bicycling on public roads.
- Less experienced bicyclists should be educated about the rules of the road.
- Be aware of the understanding among bicyclists and motorists about sharing the road.
- Promote and ensure safe motorist and bicyclist practices (proper speed, yielding right-of-way, not driving while drinking).
- Teach increased awareness of surroundings. (Beware of opening car doors, sewer grating, debris on roads, uneven surfaces, poorly lit areas.)
Obey traffic rules.
- Cyclists must follow the same rules as motorists. Use correct hand signals before turning.
- Because we are all sharing the same road, obeying the rules of the road will allow for an enjoyable and safe ride for both bicyclists and motorists.
Ride in single file with traffic, not against it.

Avoid major roads and sidewalks.

Announce your presence ("On your left") on bike and walking trails as you come up behind and pass pedestrians and other riders.

Enforcement and legislation can increase bicycle safety.
- Mandating use of protective devices (helmets, reflectors)
- Bicycle-friendly community and community planning, for example establishing bicycle lanes and bike trails or rails-to-trails