Give away bike helmets to pediatric patients during Brain Injury Awareness Month in October

posted 08.03.10

Help children in your community realize the importance of safety and exercise with a helmet giveaway during Brain Injury Awareness Month in October. County medical societies, physicians, medical students, and alliances can sponsor events through Texas Medical Association’s Hard Hats for Little Heads bike helmet giveaway program.

Last year in October, TMA gave away more than 3,500 helmets at 16 Hard Hats for Little Heads events in communities across the state. TMA’s goal this year is to have at least 25 events across the state.

TMA will send a statewide news release listing each event to attract media attention for helmet safety and to help draw local media to your giveaway.

For each event, TMA provides free helmets with a purchase of helmets. Because of TAFP’s partnership with TMA, the Academy covers what would normally be the physician’s cost, up to 100 total helmets, making the event free for TAFP/TMA member physicians. Along with helmets, TMA provides a host of educational materials, such as posters, bookmarks, promotional flyers, banners, and an educational DVD featuring a TMA physician fitting a helmet. All materials are available in English and Spanish.

Hard Hats for Little Heads was created by TMA in 1994 to help children more safely enjoy wheeled activities such as biking, skateboarding, and in-line skating. The program is funded by TMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Association, through grants from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and Prudential Financial, and contributions from physicians and their families. TAFP’s participation is funded by the AAFP Foundation.

To find out how to bring the program to your community, visit www.texmed.org/hardhats or contact Tammy Wishard, TMA outreach coordinator, at (800) 880-1300, ext 1470, or tmaoutreachcoordinator@texmed.org.