January 10, 2011: New Helmets from a Canadian Brain Injury Assocation

Helmets that were acquired in Amherstburg have made their way to the heads of children in Windsor.

The Brain Injury Association of Windsor/Essex County (BIAWE) has joined forces with Canadian Tire in Amherstburg, Green Shield Canada and the All Saints Church Skate lending program to expand the already very successful Helmets on Kids Program. Green Shield helped provide funding for the program while Canadian Tire helped provide the helmets at cost.

There was a kickoff to the program last Wednesday afternoon at Charles Clarke Square in Windsor.

“The fact is helmets reduce head injuries by over 80 per cent. We are being proactive here with our prevention messaging and expanding our program to include other types of helmets,” explained Melanie Gardin, president of the BIAWE.

The BIAWE purchase 53 new hockey helmets that will be used to protect the heads of children who are ice skating this winter. Hockey helmets are the recommended helmet for ice skating and sledding. A majority of these helmets will be used by kids skating at Charles Clarke Square this winter.

Jennipher Gee, who sits on the local injury prevention coalition, brought her children and niece and nephew out last Wednesday. She said the message of wearing helmets has been conveyed to her children at an early age and that her children often point out others not wearing helmets.

“The messaging started very early,” said Gee.

Gee was hopeful more information and promotion would be put out to the general public so that people know the dangers of brain injury and how it’s easier to suffer a brain injury than a lot of people realize.

The original goal of the program was to provide bicycle helmets for children who came from families that can’t afford a bicycle helmet or that didn’t place an importance on purchasing a helmet for their child. The BIAWE has purchase over 2,100 helmets since the program started and distributes these through school programs, bike rodeos and other summertime events.

 

source: http://www.amherstburgecho.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3428724