Lorain County Public Health Awarded Helmets to Promote Bike Safety for Elyria and North Ridgeville Youth

The Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (Ohio AAP) awarded 72 helmets to Lorain County Public Health (LCPH) to promote bike helmet safety.

“With the warmer weather arriving in Northeast Ohio, we’re going to see more people outside bicycling, including children. It’s important that riders wear helmets every time they’re on bikes to prevent head injuries,” said Mark Adams, MPH, REHS, health commissioner at LCPH. According to Ohio AAP, bikes are connected to more childhood injuries than other products like trampolines, ladders and swimming pools. Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of a head injury by 85%.

LCPH partners with multiple communities, including Elyria and North Ridgeville, to make it easier and safer to bike in Lorain County. The Ohio AAP specified the awarded helmets for distribution to school-aged youth participating in Bike to School Day on May 5, 2023 through the Elyria Safe Routes to School program. The Ohio AAP also earmarked these helmets for youth participating in the spring Girls in Gear program hosted by the North Ridgeville Heart & Sole Collaborative.

Participants in these specific programs will receive one helmet at no cost. They will learn how to properly fit and wear the helmet as part of the program. Youth will be educated on traffic laws and will pledge to follow all traffic laws before riding with the group on Bike and Roll to School Day. Any student attending Eastern Heights Middle School may participate in Bike and Roll to School Day with permission; learn details from your building principal. Any North Ridgeville resident in grades four through eight may participate in the Girls in Gear program. Space is limited; email North Ridgeville Heart & Sole at nrheartandsole@gmail.com for more details on Girls in Gear registration.

The helmets are awarded through the Put a Lid On It program. Since 2011, the program has distributed more than 82,500 helmets. Learn more about bike helmet safety at OhioAAP.org. Visit LorainCountyHealth.com to learn how health and safety are priorities for Lorain County Public Health, or call 440-322-6367. Get local health updates on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.