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Students learn bike safety, receive new helmets
Matt Nachtrieb/Staff Photo
Christine Carman Stiles helps fit a bicycle helmet on to Abir Merchant during a bicycle safety program at Davis Elementary School Tuesday morning. View photos at scntx.com.
By Senitra Horbrook, Staff Writer
More than 100 first-graders are the recipients of free bicycle helmets.
In celebration of National Brain Injury Awareness Month, first-graders at Davis Elementary School in Carrollton were selected as the recipients of the helmets through the Texas Medical Association Foundation’s Hard Hats for Little Heads program. Grant money for the helmets totaled about $1,000 and was provided by the medical association foundation, Pediatric Surgery Center in Plano and Dr. Christine Carman Stiles, who specializes in plastic surgery for children.
“Eighty-five percent of bicycle injuries can be prevented,” Stiles said.
The first-graders attended a special program on bicycle safety Tuesday where they learned the importance of wearing helmets, how to properly wear a helmet and how to ride safely. Data from the National Safe Kids shows that approximately 300 children ages 14 and under are killed in bike-related accidents and another 400,000 are injured each year.
“It should feel snug like their head is getting a hug. It is supposed to be an inch above the eyebrow,” Stiles said. “It should not shake when they shake their head from side to side.”
Jamie Perkins, life safety education coordinator with the Carrollton Fire Department, demonstrated hand signals for turning left, right and stopping. She also stressed the importance of sharing the information with their parents and siblings.
“We tell kids to tell their parents,” Perkins said. “Teachers have take-home packets that the parents initial and bring back. Hopefully the kids will be excited and tell their parents that the fire department came in and told us about it.”
Davis Elementary School is the only school in the Dallas area to receive this award. Pediatric Surgery Center is located just over the Carrollton border in Plano, and the staff was looking for schools that had a significant number of children in need. No nearby Plano schools fit the bill, so the staff looked in Carrollton. When they learned of the disproportionate rate of bicycle helmets to bicycle owners, they selected Davis.
“This population is multicultural,” said Michelle Muck, child life specialist. “The assistance rate is higher than most Carrollton schools.”
During the program, 10 students were fitted and received helmets. The rest of the students will be fitted by their teacher and given helmets to take home.
“I think it’s cool,” said Anika Emmons, 7, about her new red helmet. “I learned it’s important to wear a helmet in case you fall.”
In celebration of National Brain Injury Awareness Month, first-graders at Davis Elementary School in Carrollton were selected as the recipients of the helmets through the Texas Medical Association Foundation’s Hard Hats for Little Heads program. Grant money for the helmets totaled about $1,000 and was provided by the medical association foundation, Pediatric Surgery Center in Plano and Dr. Christine Carman Stiles, who specializes in plastic surgery for children.
“Eighty-five percent of bicycle injuries can be prevented,” Stiles said.
The first-graders attended a special program on bicycle safety Tuesday where they learned the importance of wearing helmets, how to properly wear a helmet and how to ride safely. Data from the National Safe Kids shows that approximately 300 children ages 14 and under are killed in bike-related accidents and another 400,000 are injured each year.
“It should feel snug like their head is getting a hug. It is supposed to be an inch above the eyebrow,” Stiles said. “It should not shake when they shake their head from side to side.”
Jamie Perkins, life safety education coordinator with the Carrollton Fire Department, demonstrated hand signals for turning left, right and stopping. She also stressed the importance of sharing the information with their parents and siblings.
“We tell kids to tell their parents,” Perkins said. “Teachers have take-home packets that the parents initial and bring back. Hopefully the kids will be excited and tell their parents that the fire department came in and told us about it.”
Davis Elementary School is the only school in the Dallas area to receive this award. Pediatric Surgery Center is located just over the Carrollton border in Plano, and the staff was looking for schools that had a significant number of children in need. No nearby Plano schools fit the bill, so the staff looked in Carrollton. When they learned of the disproportionate rate of bicycle helmets to bicycle owners, they selected Davis.
“This population is multicultural,” said Michelle Muck, child life specialist. “The assistance rate is higher than most Carrollton schools.”
During the program, 10 students were fitted and received helmets. The rest of the students will be fitted by their teacher and given helmets to take home.
“I think it’s cool,” said Anika Emmons, 7, about her new red helmet. “I learned it’s important to wear a helmet in case you fall.”
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