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Hazelwood Police and Explorers put up signs promoting safety helmet use for youth, ages 17 and under.

(Dec. 2, 2011)

The City of Hazelwood has launched a community service project involving members of Police Explorers Post #9217 and Fire Explorers Post #9341.  The goal is to educate parents and their children, ages 17 and under, about the mandatory requirement for kids to wear a secured safety helmet for all wheeled sports.

In January 2007, the Hazelwood City Council took the lead in approving Ordinance 3834-07, Section 390.130, which brought the City Code into alignment with state statute.  It states every person under the age of 17 operating or being a passenger on a bicycle, or using a scooter, skateboard, in-line skates, or roller skates must wear a secured safety helmet of good fit.  A year later, St. Louis County passed a similar ordinance (Ordinance 23830, Section 602.600) for the whole region.

Hazelwood police and fire explorers are in the process of posting new street signs at 30 locations throughout the community to remind residents of the need to comply with the Hazelwood and St. Louis County ordinances.  The intent is to help reduce the risk of head injuries caused by an unexpected fall or accident.

The National Safe Kids organization reports that over 600 children are injured every day in bicycle-related accidents.  Of those injuries, 11 percent were under age four and 36 percent between the ages of five and nine.  Fifty percent of children under age 14 who are involved in an accident with an automobile die from their injuries, mostly due to traumatic head injury.  Safe Kids goes on to say that helmet use can reduce the risk of head injury by up to 85 percent and severe brain injury by 88 percent.

Young people interested in joining Hazelwood Police Explorers Post #9217 should contact PO Mike Monticelli at (314) 838-5000.  Those wanting to be a member of Hazelwood Fire Explorers Post #9341 can call BC Randy Getz at (314) 731-3424.

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