Mary Alice Reporting – Spread across Ohio, thousands of bicycle helmets will go to children through an Ohio Department of Transportation partnership.
May is Bike Helmet Safety Awareness and nearly 10,000 of the coverings will go to children through the Put A Lid On It campaign in conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatrics – Ohio Chapter.
With Ohio AAP, Haley Southworth explains one important rule is for the helmet to fit properly.
“We encourage everyone to make sure your helmet is about two fingers above your eyebrows, you can get just about two fingers under the chin strap so it’s tight enough, and you use a “v” around your ear for that chin strap to make sure it’s fitting the way it should.”
Researchers found that nearly three-quarters of all bike-related fatalities would be prevented by a helmet.
Bicyclists need to practice roadway safety but motorists also need to watch out for peddled riders, says ODOT Active Transportation Manager Cait Harley.
“Slowing down, putting your phones down, paying attention to people walking and biking out there is really important.”
Since 2018, nearly 2,000 kids, under the age of 18, have been struck by a motor vehicle while biking in Ohio. More than 200 of these crashes resulted in either a life-altering injury or fatality.
Among the organizations getting bicycle helmets out to children at individual events include the Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department, Holmes County General Health District, Tappan lake Park, and the Tuscarawas County Health Department.
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