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The tragic death of well-known actress Natasha Richardson caused by a fall and bleeding in the brain brings the issue of wearing safety helmets to the forefront of public discussion.

To help prevent local residents from sustaining a head injury while riding a bicycle, the Hazelwood Fire Department is offering safety helmets in three different sizes (adult, youth and children) for a bargain price of $8, announced Hazelwood Fire Deputy Marshal John Otte.

” Now that warmer weather is here, people are getting more active doing outdoor activities. Our community offers scenic places to ride bikes or go rollerblading, as well as a Skate Park for BMX and skateboard enthusiasts,” said Otte. “But don’t spoil your fun by ending up in a hospital emergency room with a head injury after an accident. Wearing safety helmets is the latest ‘cool.’”

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, two percent of motor vehicle-related deaths are bicyclists. The most serious injuries among a majority of those killed involve the head or brain, highlighting the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet. Helmet use has been estimated to reduce head injury risk by as much as 85 percent and brain injury by almost 90 percent.

Since a majority of bicycle deaths involve people age 16 and older, the Hazelwood Fire
Department recommends helmets for people of all ages. “No one can say for sure that bicycle accidents are avoidable. And, skilled and experienced cyclists aren’t immune from falling off their bike because of a tire blow-out or the actions of a reckless driver. Remember, bones heal, brains don’t. The best way to prevent potential memory loss or learning difficulties caused by a brain injury is to wear safety helmets – no matter if you’re young or old,” Otte added. Educating children about the importance of wearing the right helmet for bike riding and other sports activities is even more critical. According to the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), about half of the 500,000 bicycle-related emergency room-treated injuries in 2007 involved children under the age of 16.

Since scooters are a popular form of transportation for youngsters, the CPSC did a study on them as well. The findings revealed that over 80 percent of nearly 50,000 emergency room-related injuries involving scooters in 2007 were to children younger than 15. This prompted the CPSC to recommend the use of elbow and knee pads with helmets for scooters, skateboards and roller blades.

“The best helmet is one that’s worn. To motivate children to wear helmets, parents should choose a helmet that looks great and makes them feel good. The helmet should rest flat on their head, not tilted back in an angle,” said Otte. “Also, keep in mind that young people, age 17 and under, are now required by law to wear safety helmets.”

Effective January 1, 2009, St. Louis County Bill #339 makes it illegal for anyone under the age of 17 to ride a bicycle, scooter, roller skates, roller blades or a skateboard on local streets without wearing a helmet.

For more information on the availability of bicycle safety helmets from the Hazelwood Fire Department, call (314) 731-3424.

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