The summer holidays are almost here, and whilst keeping the children entertained will be most parents' top priority, safety should be on the list, too.

It's reported that brain injuries amongst children will increase by up to a third during the long summer break.

So how can we keep our children safe during the holidays, while letting them to have fun at the same time?

It's still surprises me just how many children are out riding their bikes or scooters without a cycle helmet on. Wearing a cycle helmet can considerably reduce the risk of sustaining a brain injury, or at least the level of severity of such an injury.

As personal injury specialists, Access Legal from Shoosmiths see the life changing effects a brain injury can have on both victims and their families. With this in mind, it seems logical that purchasing a cycle helmet for your child at a cost of around £35 is the smart option.

If your child sustains a head injury and losses consciousness, most clinicians would advise taking them straight to hospital. However, even if your child doesn't lose consciousness, it's always sensible to keep an eye on them, because sometimes the effects of a head injury, particularly a mild one, may take a few hours to crystallise.

If your child suffers from extreme tiredness, headache, nausea or vomiting, trouble speaking, extreme irritability or extreme changes in personality, you should seek advice. In severe cases of one or more of the above, it's advisable to go to hospital. For milder cases it's appropriate to seek urgent advice from your GP.

Children don't necessarily consider the consequences of their actions and we as parents need to do this for them. So we urge parents to ensure that their children wear their cycle helmets before going out on their bikes and scooters, and that these are fitted properly.

Also, encourage your child to let you know if they've hit their head, so you can look out for the above signs.

For more information on educating children about cycle helmet safety and Access Legal's cycle helmet safety campaign in schools, please contact Liz Hayward.

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