It’s Back-to-school season and as kids head back into the classroom, KID encourages caregivers to put safety first. Every school year, thousands of students are injured playing sports, on the playground, riding their bikes or walking to and from school.

To prevent injuries when heading back to school, follow these tips from the CPSC:

Bikes:

There was an estimated annual average of 144,100 emergency room-treated bicycle injuries from 2017 to 2019, for children under 16 years old, including fractures, contusions, and head injuries.

  • Wear a properly-fitted helmet when riding bicycles, scooters, skateboards, etc.
  • Check all bikes, helmets, and safety equipment on the CPSC Recalls page.
  • Read our blog on bike safety for more tips and information on how to stay safe while riding. 

Playgrounds:

Each year, more than 206,700 injuries to children under the age of 16 occur on playgrounds. CPSC has investigated 43 deaths associated with playground equipment since 2014.

  • Leave necklaces and clothing with drawstrings at home to reduce strangulation hazards. Also, don’t wear bike helmets on playground equipment as the helmet straps can also get caught in the equipment. 
  • Check for “S” hooks, protruding bolt ends, and sharp points or edges on playground equipment. why?
  • Check with a quick touch that slides or other surfaces aren’t too hot before playing.. 
  • Confirm that the playground has good impact surfacing such as a thick layer (nine inches at least) of mulch/wood chips.
  • Learn more on how to keep children safe on playgrounds in our blog.

Backpacks:

From 2017 to 2019, an estimated annual average of 7,500 kids under 19 years old were treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to backpacks. Lighten the load – your backpacks shouldn’t be too heavy.

Report unsafe equipment and products at SaferProducts.gov. For more safety information, sign up for KID’s email alerts and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @KidsInDanger. Enjoy the warm weather!
In the Chicago area and want to see KID in the community? KID will be tabling at the 3rd Annual Back to School Event on August 13th from 3 pm to 6 pm.