Safe Kids Sponsors 'Ride Safe' Activities

Children sustain more than 275,000 nonfatal bicycle injuries each year; with an average 140 fatalities, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention.

Safe Kids McKean is partnering with the School Street Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and St. Bernard Elementary School to promote 'Bike Smart from the Start... Wear a Helmet' during the Ride Safe Bicycle Safety Fairs that will be held on Wednesday, May 11th from 6pm to 7:30pm at School Street for students and family members. A second event will be held Thursday, May 12th from 6pm to 7:30pm at St. Bernard Elementary/Middle School for students and families.

The safety fairs will focus on promoting bicycle helmet use and educating children and parents how to correctly fit and use a helmet. Children may bring their helmets for fitting and Safe Kids McKean will provide replacement helmets if necessary.

According to Safe Kids USA nearly half (40 percent) of injured bicyclists have traumatic brain injuries. Properly fitted bike helmets could reduce the risk of bike-related brain injuries by 88 percent; however, only 15 to 25 percent of cyclists ages 14 and under usually wear a helmet.

Activities will include a bicycle safety obstacle course, stations with bicycle safety information, pedestrian safety information, and summer safety items. Children are encouraged to bring their bikes. There will also be refreshments for Safe Kids.

The Ride Safe Bicycle Safety Fair is supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For more information call CARE for Children at 362-4621 or visit the Safe Kids McKean County website at www.careforchildren.info.

Pictured, Kimberly Engstrom, Rainbow Corner Preschool Director and Safe Kids McKean County Advisory Council Member, fits a child during a Ride Safe bicycle safety event in Kane, PA. The local Safe Kids chapter will be hosting Ride Safe events this week at School Street and St. Bernards Schools, and will be hosting similar events in the Smethport and Otto-Eldred communities in the coming weeks.