How to Teach About Bike Helmet Safety
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission website, more than 50,000 children go to the emergency room each year from bicycle-involved head injuries. Teach students about the importance of wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle by reading books, posting information, and demonstrating the proper way to wear a helmet. Conduct a visual reminder of how helmets protect the head by dropping melons with and without helmet protection.
Things You'll Need
- Bulletin board supplies
- 2 ripe honeydew melons
- Bicycle helmets
- Cleaning supplies
Instructions
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Books, Bulletins and Physical Demonstration
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1
The CPSC esimates that half of head injuries could be prevented with bicycle helmets. Read a book, such as "Bicycles Have Feelings Too" by Barbara E. Scherz & William C. Smith, about bicycle helmet safety.
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2
Create a classroom bulletin board about bicycle safety; include information about wearing helmets properly, wearing light colored clothing, and proper turning hand signals (see Resources).
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3
Demonstrate how to properly wear bicycle helmets on the head. The helmet should sit squarely on the head, not tipped backward or forward; helmets worn properly will protect both the forehead and back of the head. Do not just place the helmet on top of your head; secure the straps for best protection.
Melon Drop Demonstration
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4
Demonstrate the importance of wearing the helmet by using a comparison visual between a person wearing and not wearing a helmet.
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5
Strap a helmet on one of the melons, and hold both melons out to your sides. Tip hands forward simultaneously. You should find that the melon without the helmet will break instantly; the melon protected by the helmet will withstand several drops without cracking.
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6
Quickly clean up the melon mess before students slip in the mess.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Let students wear a helmet and lay on the ground on their back and stomach to demonstrate how the helmet will protect the head and nose from falls.
Before conducting a melon drop, obtain permission from school administration. Consider attempting the demonstration outside where the area can be easily cleaned with a water hose.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit helmet boy 2 image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com Girl Staing on Road Inside Park With Bicycle and Helmet image by Andrei Merkulov from Fotolia.com
