810-LmcastM’ Farming, Saturday, Auguat 12, 1995
1 a
Ideas For Summertime Fun
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming StafT
EPHRATA (Lancaster Co.)
Enjoy these last warm, lazy days of
summer before school begins. Kids
across the state are finding plenty
to do and doing it safely.
Did you know that summer is the
Always wc ..ig ,ig a tricycle or
big wheel. More injuries are associated with bicycles than
with any other consumer product. Ch lldren ages 6to 12 face
the greatest accident risk. Helmets reduce the risk of head
trauma.
A 60-ft. wooden train that teaches children about milk and
farm life recently arrived at PAWS Farm Nature Center In
Mount Laurel, N J., courtesy of Dairy Council, Inc. The sec
tions of the train (dubbed the “Dairy Express”) teach chil
dren how milk goes from a cow to the supermarket. PAWS,
which stands for the Preservation and Wildlife Society, Is a
nonprofit organization that acts as a refuge for injured ani
mals. PAWS volunteers nurse the injured animals back to
health so they can be released Into wildlife again.
Other attractions at PAWS Include a fenced-ln area for
the animals and wildlife that will remain on the farm, a na
ture trail, and a restored farmhouse that shows children
how Herns such as wheat, potatoes, apples, milk and eggs
are turned into supermarket products. PAWS Fram Nature
Center is open Wednesday through Sunday year-round
from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission Is $1.25 for children and $2
for adults. For more information contact Barbara Holmes at
(609) 778-8795.
peak season for child injuries
occurring outside the home?
Did you know that one in four
children suffer a preventable injury
serious enough to require medical
attention?
A preventable injury means it
did not need to happen if precau-
tions had been taken.
Did you know that more injuries
are associated with bicycles than
with any other consumer product?
Recently, a new law went into
effect to help reduce bicycle inju-
How To Choose
A Helmet
• Select a helmet that fits properly
and does not move around on the
head. It should cover the top of the
forehead. Choose a helmet that can
be buckled and unbuckled easily.
• Buy only a helmet approved by
either the Snell Memorial Founda
tion or the American National
Standards Institute. This means the
helmet has been tested for safety.
• White, yellow, and orange hel
mets offer the best visibility in
traffic.
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• Treat your helmet with care. If
thrown or kicked, it could be
damaged.
• Buy a new helmet if yours is
involved in a bike crash.
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Derrin, 8; Brent, 7, and Curtis, 3, enjoy jumping and doing flips on the trampoline.
They are the children of Merle and Charlene Ranck of Gap.
Eating lea cream la asm* way. .Fromieft, Victoria, Kyle, and Melissa Bro*
elua, grandchildren of Fa. Ag Sac, Charles Brosius, enjoy it. Victoria and Melissa are
aistars, Kyle la their coufsi. They live in Chester County.
ries. The new state law required
children 12 and under to wear an
approved bicycle helmet while rid
ing as either die operator or passen
ger. The law applies to any vehicle
propelled by human-driven pedals,
including tricycles and other
devices such as “big wheels.”
Helmets have a hard plastic
exterior and an inner shell made of
strong material, which absorbs
most of the impact from a fall.
If an accident occurs while rid
ing, the risk of head trauma is
between three and seven times gre
ater for people who do not wear
helmets.
Remember to take time to
buckle your helmet no matter how
quickly you want to jump on your
bicycle. Wear it even if you are on
a country road because they can be
as hazardous to bikers as city
streets.
Although fewer cars are travel
ing on country roads, the road often
has bumps, ruts, loose stones or
sharp drop-offs that can upset bicy
cles or cause a child to lose control.
Country roads are often narrow and
winding, which makes it difficult
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for motorists to drive safely around
a biker.
If you do not wear a helmet
while riding a bicycle, tricycle or
big wheel, you may be fined $25.
The fine may be dismissed with
proof-of-purchase for an approved
helmet
PROVE Rules For
Bike Safety
• Predictable. Ride to the right
Use hand signals. Obey traffic
laws and signs.
• Responsible. A bike is a vehi
cle, not a toy, and you are a driver.
Obey traffic laws and signs. Be
considerate of other cyclists,
motorists, and pedestrians.
• Observant. Watch for road
hazards including potholes, drain
age grates, loose gravel and oil
spots. Watch for cars exiting
driveways.
• Visible. Wear flourescent clo
thing and use a bike flag. Avoid
riding after dark. If you must ride
at night, use lights and reflectors.
• Equipped. Wear a helmet and
keep your bicycle well
maintained.