It's spring, and bicycles and scooters are being pulled out of garages.

But before parents let their children go riding, parents may want to teach their kids some bike and scooter safety.

"The local Safe Kids chapter would like to bring awareness to the fact that warm weather is here and everyone needs to be more cautious. Children are outside playing and are excited about the weather changes," said Darlene Eherenman, Kosciusko County Safe Kids Chapter coordinator.

Each year, more than 200 children age 14 and under are killed and nearly 350,000 are injured in bicycle-related incidents, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign. Head injuries from falls off bicycles are the leading cause of death in bicycle-related crashes. The majority of all bicycle fatalities occur in the summer months.

Eherenman said drivers should always drive the posted speed limits in residential areas because of bicycle riders. "Be mindful of intersections and alleyways," she said, where bike riders often can be found.

When crossing roads or railroads, children should walk their bicycles. Bike riders need to obey all traffic laws and wear light-colored clothing.

"They should have some sort of light on their bike at night," said Eherenman.

Early on, she said, parents should teach their children proper bike safety and the benefits of safety attire. Children or their parents should make sure, when riding a bicycle, they wear the proper shoes and shoestrings are tied so they don't get caught in the pedals.

According to the National Safe Kids Campaign, helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent and brain injury by as much as 88 percent. When purchasing helmets, buy only those that meet or exceed safety standards developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Children also should never double-up on bicycles.

"The biggest key," said Eherenman, "to prevention is for parents to take the time, be involved. ... It's probably a good idea to ride in pairs."

Bicycles aren't the only things kids ride in warm weather - scooters are increasingly popular.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 30,000 scooter-related injuries requiring emergency room treatment were reported last year. Nearly 85 percent of these injuries are to children age 14 and under.

Some tips for scooter safety include:

• Children should always wear appropriate safety gear - a helmet, elbow and knee pads - when riding a scooter.

• Be sure protective gear fits properly and does not interfere with the rider's movement, vision or hearing.

• Children 8 and under should not use scooters without close adult supervision.

• Before using a scooter, the rider or parent should check it thoroughly for hazards such as loose, broken or cracked parts; sharp edges on metal boards; slippery top surfaces; and wheels with nicks and cracks.

• Ride scooters on smooth, paved surfaces free from traffic. Avoid riding on streets or surfaces with water, sand, gravel or dirt.

• Don't ride scooters at night.

• Never hitch a ride from a vehicle and limit use of the scooter to one person at a time.

• Exercise caution when riding a scooter downhill. If a steep hill is encountered, step off the scooter and walk to the bottom of the hill.

Kosciusko County Safe Kids is planning its Eighth Annual Safety Summer Fest June 15 at Center Lake Park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festival will focus on such issues as bike and scooter safety and other prevention areas. [[In-content Ad]]