Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center’s Emergency Department to Give Away Bicycle Helmets to Children

Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center’s Emergency Department staff want to help ensure the safety of local children by giving away free bicycle helmets on May 23, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in its Hess Auditorium. Pre-registration is required by calling 315-713-6703. The event is for children ages 5 to 12, and all children will be fitted correctly in a helmet by event staff.

During the event, the Claxton-Hepburn Emergency Department will educate the public—children, parents, adult bicyclists—about the need for head protection. Representatives from the Claxton-Hepburn Emergency Department, Fidelis Care, and United Healthcare will be on hand fitting helmets, providing bike safety and maintenance demonstrations, and traffic safety education and information. The St. Lawrence County Sherriff’s office will be offering free Child ID’s.

Julie Sciorra, director of the Claxton-Hepburn Emergency Department, states, “The Use Your Head…Wear a Helmet, is a program designed to educate children and their parents about how to prevent head injuries by wearing a helmet when bicycling, in-line skating, skateboarding, and riding a scooter.” The event is being co-sponsored by Fidelis Care, United Healthcare and the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department.

Wearing a bicycle helmet is such a simple way to ensure your child’s safety. On average, 250 children in the United States under the age of 14 die each year because of a bicycle crash. Another 300,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for severe head injuries. Many of these accidents could have been prevented if the children had worn bicycle helmets. Wearing a bicycle helmet reduced the risk of severe head and brain injury by 85-88%. It is estimated that 75% of bicycle-related fatalities among children could be prevented with a bicycle helmet.