How to Dress Up for Safety

Whether it's for jogging outside, going trick-or-treating on Halloween or riding your bicycle, dressing up for safety is an important and potentially life-saving responsibility of a pedestrian or outdoors athlete. By increasing your level of visibility, you increase the awareness and ability of drivers to avoid hitting you and causing you bodily harm. With a few simple items, such as reflective clothing and/or wrist and headbands, you can effectively dress up for safety. Also, wearing the correct protective gear for outdoor activities or athletics can decrease or eliminate injuries when accidents happen.

Things You'll Need

• Reflective wristbands/headbands
• Bright clothing
• Glow-in-the-dark clothing
• Adhesive or iron-on reflective tape
• Reflective vest
• Bicycle helmet
• Kneepads
• Shin guards
• Arm guards
• Protective headgear
• Proper shoes or boots
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• Hat with brim
• Warm knit cap

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Instructions

Safety Dressing for Outdoor Exercise

• 1

  Dress in colors that allow you to be seen from a distance. White, neon and bright colors are the best options. White T-shirts and white shorts are a great combination for increasing your visibility. Bright colors reflect light and allow you to be highly visible. Avoid wearing dark colors as they're difficult to see, especially if you are outside at night.

• 2

  Wear reflective clothing for higher visibility.

  Wear glow-in-the-dark reflective clothing if you're participating in outdoor activities at night. Many companies make clothing with reflective materials. Make your own by adding adhesive reflective or neon tape to your T-shirt. Iron glow-in-the-dark or reflective tape onto your clothing according to the manufacturer's instructions.

• 3

  Wear a reflective vest and reflective bicycle helmet while riding bicycles. Coupled with your brightly colored clothing, you'll increase your visibility and protect your head from injuries.

Dressing Safely for Athletics

• 4

  Wear the correct shoes for the sport.

  Wear the appropriate protective gear for the sport you're playing. Safety should always be your primary concern. Always wear the correct shoes for the sport. Street shoes don't provide the traction necessary for turf or gym floors.

• 5

  Place shin pads on your shins, arm guards over your arms, and knee pads around your knees and fasten any straps, usually hook and loop, comfortably but tightly.

• 6

  Put on the appropriate headgear.

  Place the appropriate protective headgear onto your head and fasten any chinstrap according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Dressing up for safety in athletics must be a priority in aggressive contact sports such as football and hockey.

Dress Safely for the Weather

• 7

  Wear appropriate clothing for the weather.

  Wear the appropriate clothing for the weather conditions. If in doubt, layer your clothing so you can remove items if you're too warm, but remain warm if the weather turns frigid. Long pants and a long-sleeved shirt are good choices in any weather because the fabric protects your skin from the elements.

• 8

  Place a brimmed hat on your head in the warm seasons, and a knit cap on your head in cold temperatures. Brims protect your neck and face from the sun, while knit caps help your body retain heat.

• 9

  Wear the right footwear to avoid injuries.

  Wear the appropriate footwear for the activity and climate. Wearing the appropriate shoes or boots can help you avoid injuries during your activity.