Before they hit the road: ATV Safety

Every year, there are nearly 700 ATV- related deaths and over 100,000 emergency room visits nationwide, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. In fact, 53 children in 2016 died who were under the age of 16. Many of these tragic incidents can be prevented if all riders get trained and are supervised while driving.

Before your child goes for a ride on an ATV, Renee McCabe from Safe Kids Greater Augusta recommends these ATV safety tips for all ages:

• Never let a kid under 16 ride an adult ATV
• Stay away from paved roads and ride only on designated trails at a safe speed
• Don’t ride with a passenger or as a passenger
• Always wear protective gear, such as helmets, eye protection, boots, gloves, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt.
• Get training from a qualified instructor

At Children’s Hospital of Georgia, we have an emergency department specifically tailored to fit the needs of children, and we are here 24/7. Our pediatric emergency department serves over 28,000 pediatric patients each year. For more information call 706-721-7337 (PEDS) or visit augustahealth.org/chog.

Safe Kids Greater Augusta, led by Children’s Hospital of Georgia, works to stop preventable childhood injury, the leading killer of children ages 1 to 19. Safe Kids Greater Augusta is a member of the Safe Kids worldwide. To find out more about local Safe Kids programs, call 706-721-7606, or visit augustahealth.org/safekids.