Baptist Health and Safe Kids Northeast Florida
Partner with Local Groups to Prevent Head Injuries in Children

Jacksonville, Fla., October 12, 2005 — Safe Kids Northeast Florida and its lead agency Wolfson Children's Hospital, a hospital in the Baptist Health system, are partnering with the Duval County Health Department and Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to provide positive reinforcement to Northeast Florida children who wear an approved helmet while riding their bicycle.

The "I Got Caught Wearing My Bike Helmet" project will take place throughout October and November. Jacksonville Sheriff's officers will reward kids in their zones with a coupon for a free ice cream cone, provided by McDonald's restaurants. All the children have to do to qualify for the reward is "get caught" practicing one of the most important safety habits for young bicyclists: protecting their head and brain by wearing a helmet.

"Statistics show that up to 85 percent of head injuries that result from bicycle crashes could be prevented with the correct use of an approved bike helmet," says Cynthia Dennis, coordinator of Safe Kids Northeast Florida. "The helmet must be approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, have a proper fit and be worn correctly to offer that protection. We want to encourage kids riding a bike in their neighborhoods and to school to always wear a helmet, just like racecar drivers, professional football players and Lance Armstrong include a helmet as a part of their necessary gear," Dennis says.

When officers find children who are not wearing a helmet, they will refer them to one of the free helmet distribution events that will be held this year at neighborhood Duval County Health Department facilities. Two hundred Bell bicycle helmets, which were provided by a Florida Department of Transportation grant to the local chapter of Safe Kids, will be fitted and given out to children ages 16 and under. In addition to receiving an appropriate helmet, the children and their parents will view an educational video on bicycle safety and the importance of helmets, and will be given bike safety activity books.

The free bike helmet events will be held at the following Duval County Health Department locations:

• Center for Women and Children     Tuesday, October 18th         3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• South Jax Health Clinic             Tuesday, October 25th                 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• Beaches Health Clinic             Wednesday, November 2nd         3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• Wesconnett Health Clinic             Tuesday, November 8th             3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

An adult family member must be present to receive a helmet, and bring proof of public assistance, such as WIC or Medicaid. Fifty helmets will be given away at each site on a first come, first served basis.

Safe Kids Northeast Florida – founded in 2003 and led by Wolfson Children’s Hospital – works to prevent accidental childhood injury, which is the leading killer of children 14 and under. Safe Kids Northeast Florida is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury.