Undercover Helmet Program
District Strategic Goal #4: Create a Satisfying and Productive Partnership with Families and the Community
Dunlap Grade School was the recipient of a Children’s Hospital of Illinois Grant that funded a bicycle safety presentation and bicycle helmets for all of our students. Despite the snow on the ground, spring is typically a time that kids are spending time outside and riding their bikes. The timing of the bicycle safety presentation and helmet fitting allows for students to go into the spring season with the knowledge they need to ride safely. Thank you to our Parent’s Club for partnering with us to secure and support this grant opportunity!
As indicated on the Kids Health Website, “Bike riding is a lot of fun, but accidents happen. The safest way to use your bike is for transportation, not play. Every year, about 300,000 kids go to the emergency department because of bike injuries, and at least 10,000 kids have injuries that require a few days in the hospital. Some of these injuries are so serious that children die, usually from head injuries.A head injury can mean brain injury. That’s why it’s so important to wear your bike helmet. Wearing one doesn’t mean you can be reckless, but a helmet will provide some protection for your face, head, and brain in case you fall down.”
Children’s Hospital of Illinois and Russell’s Cycling and Fitness work together on the Kohl’s Kids Ride Safe UNDERCOVER bicycle helmet program. Since 2002, the program has partnered with 102 schools and distributed over 20,800 free bicycle helmets to students. To learn more about bicycle safety, check out the following resources:
- Bicycle Safety Helmet Institute
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Kids Health Bike Safety
That’s wonderful! I wish there was a way to make those things more breathable though. Poor kids have sweat pouring off their faces in the summer :/