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Eyewear isn't merely a good idea. I can't believe anyone who would protect Junior from the *remote* possibility that he *might* crack his skull falling off his bike some day within the next 18 years, would not *demand* that Junior never get on his bike without eyewear of some kind. The odds of being distracted by something in his eye, even as a toddler, is -far- more significant than the odds of Junior cracking his skull in an accident. But I guess his eyesight, and his elbows, and the tetanus he might get if he cuts himself on his own bike, or the low-growing branch from the tree up ahead that he didn't see because he was too distracted by the bug in his eyeball...isn't as important or worth preventing, than the crack in his skull he's likely to never experience anyway.
You can get hit in the eye all day long by bugs. You just stop your bike. Wipe your eyes, and go back to riding. A bug in the eye is nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
However .. if you have just one serious fall ... where your head hits against a solid object or hits the ground ... you can end up in the emergency room ... or worse. I'd say that is reason enough to always wear a helmet.
The comparison of needing scuba gear in a swimming pool seems absurd. When kids are in a pool, they almost always have people watching them. If they get into trouble, someone is typically there to help. When kids drown, it's almost always when they are left alone, and accidentally fall into a pool, and they can't swim. It's not when they are out swimming for recreation. That should be up to the parents to make sure family pools are kept covered, and kids who can't swim are kept away from open pools when alone. Parents also need to use good judgement when letting their kids swim in the ocean or anywhere where unsafe swimming conditions may exist. Kids who are weak swimmers should wear floaties, etc.
Now when a kid falls from a bike, it's an entirely different story. Nobody is there to protect the kid's head before it hits the ground or some other solid object. That type of event happens within seconds. And that is the reason helmets make sense. Head injuries may not happen often, but when they do, they are often serious.
In contrast, a bug in the eye is about as non-serious as an injury can get. You are still in full control of your bike, and you just apply the brakes, and wipe the bug out of your eye, and go on your merry way.
Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge sells helmets for $10 and properly fits them. A newspaper article about this mentioned they were motivated by the head trauma cases they saw in the ER and wanted to do something about it.
It only takes 1 accident; and they are called accidents for a reason. The strangest things can cause a fall and even at very low speed, your head hitting a hard surface can cause serious pain. I don't care how hot or silly or inconvenient they are- no helmet, no bike, scooter, board or skis-PERIOD!! My kids health is more important than the inconveniences. A helmet is a lot less $ than an ER bill.
In contrast, a bug in the eye is about as non-serious as an injury can get. You are still in full control of your bike, and you just apply the brakes, and wipe the bug out of your eye, and go on your merry way.
It's not the idea of an 'injury' as it is the prevention of one.
A child first learning how to ride a bicycle or, new to riding a bicycle... might not be able to maintain full control over a bicycle with one hand when distracted with a bug in the eye. I think she may have exampled a child as you are identifying the situation with a child.
It's not the idea of an 'injury' as it is the prevention of one.
A child first learning how to ride a bicycle or, new to riding a bicycle... might not be able to maintain full control over a bicycle with one hand when distracted with a bug in the eye. I think she may have exampled a child as you are identifying the situation with a child.
Anyone really, but especially children who haven't perfected their motor conrol or distance perception, among other things.
As for the pool example, it was one example of how kids drown. Rivers, lakes, oceans, streams, the bathtub, pools, etc. etc. (with "etc" being any and all other possible methods of drowning, since some people want to nitpick).
There is a far higher risk of a childhood death as a result of drowning, than there is of childhood death as a result of head trauma from a bicycle accident, with or without a helmet. And yet, no one is up in arms about people not preventing drowning by providing mandatory oxygen tanks to children. Floaties don't prevent drowning. Even knowing how to swim doesn't prevent drowning. They reduce the risk of it. The only thing that -prevents- drowning is either not getting into the water in the first place, or breathing oxygen while you're in it.
You're far more likely to experience head trauma in a car accident as a passenger than you are as a result of a bicycle accident as a bike rider. And yet, helmets for children in motor vehicles aren't mandatory.
I just really think that of all the possible risks of injury and death, obsessing over bicycle helmets is just not as significant, as so many others that parents never even think twice about.
It's not the idea of an 'injury' as it is the prevention of one.
A child first learning how to ride a bicycle or, new to riding a bicycle... might not be able to maintain full control over a bicycle with one hand when distracted with a bug in the eye. I think she may have exampled a child as you are identifying the situation with a child.
I still don't think a bug in the eye would be that serious of an event, even for a child.
I believe even a child would know enough to stop their bike if something got into their eye.
However, let's face it ... all we are doing is assuming here.
I doubt anyone did any studies on this, so none of us knows the true answer.
Anyone really, but especially children who haven't perfected their motor conrol or distance perception, among other things.
As for the pool example, it was one example of how kids drown. Rivers, lakes, oceans, streams, the bathtub, pools, etc. etc. (with "etc" being any and all other possible methods of drowning, since some people want to nitpick).
I did mention oceans, and other unsafe swimming conditions (in general).
Once again, I think parents need to be on top of the situation, and do what they can to keep their kid away from all unsafe swimming conditions if their child doesn't swim.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AnonChick
There is a far higher risk of a childhood death as a result of drowning, than there is of childhood death as a result of head trauma from a bicycle accident, with or without a helmet. And yet, no one is up in arms about people not preventing drowning by providing mandatory oxygen tanks to children. Floaties don't prevent drowning. Even knowing how to swim doesn't prevent drowning. They reduce the risk of it. The only thing that -prevents- drowning is either not getting into the water in the first place, or breathing oxygen while you're in it.
You're far more likely to experience head trauma in a car accident as a passenger than you are as a result of a bicycle accident as a bike rider. And yet, helmets for children in motor vehicles aren't mandatory.
I just really think that of all the possible risks of injury and death, obsessing over bicycle helmets is just not as significant, as so many others that parents never even think twice about.
If there were a simple effective way to prevent children from drowning, I'd say use it. If it means saving a life, then I'm all for it.
But my feeling, is that parents should supervise young children at all times when in or near water. Drownings occur when adults aren't paying attention to the children.
Scuba gear is a bit of an excessive answer. I think floatation devices are a better answer. Especially lifejackets, preservers, and other devices which which keep the child's head above water.
But it's still a parents ultimate responsibility to keep their kids safe, so parents need to keep a constant watch over their children when they are near water.
I still don't think a bug in the eye would not be that serious of an event, even for a child.
I believe even a child would know enough to stop their bike if something got into their eye.
However, let's face it ... all we are doing is assuming here.
I doubt anyone did any studies on this, so none of us knows the true answer.
So why bother to debate it?
There are lot's of opinions, what if's and assumptions flying around actual fact in most posts on this forum.
But, hey.. we still do it.
Anyways, the likelihood of a bug getting into a child's eye is very slim. Eyewear would be mostly intended for those cycling at a higher rate of speed in which case, bugs do not get out of the way for.
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