Although bike riding is a lot of fun, accidents can happen. About 176,000 kids go to the emergency room every year because of injuries from bike accidents. Some of these injuries can even cause death. Usually deaths are a result of a head injury.

A head injury can result in a brain injury. That's why it's so important to put on your bike helmet and your other safety gear before getting on your bike. Wearing them doesn't mean you can’t get hurt - so don’t get reckless - but they will provide some protection for you in case you fall.

Make sure the helmet is facing the right direction. There should be a two-finger space between the top of your eyebrows and the bottom of the helmet. This will make sure your helmet will hit the ground and not your forehead if you were to fall off of your bike. Next, tighten the straps beneath your chin. It should be tight enough that jiggling your helmet makes your forehead skin move, but not so tight it hurts or leaves a mark on your forehead. If your kid’s size helmet is a little too big, extra padding for the inside of the helmet can be purchased (if they are not provided).

Wear your other safety gear, such as knee pads and elbow pads. You should also wear tennis shoes that are tied. This will help keep your feet from getting hurt from falls or from slipping off the pedals. Bright colored clothing will help ensure that other people will see you on your bike and gloves can be worn as well to help prevent your hands from getting scraped in falls and to help you keep a grip on your handles.