Texas Kids Receive 4,000 Brand New Bike Helmets From TMA's Hard Hats Program

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 06 Nov 2007 - 3:00 PST

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Kids across Texas are safer from the threat of debilitating head injuries, thanks to free helmets and advice provided by the Texas Medical Association (TMA). TMA hosted a major statewide Hard Hats for Little Heads blitz during October, Brain Injury Awareness Month.

"This is wonderful, knowing we've improved the lives of thousands of children just this month alone," said David Butler, MD, a TMA physician leader who helped host a Hard Hats event in Austin. "It is so much better to protect children from potential devastating head injuries than to see them suffer needlessly from a fall while riding on their bike," adds Dr. Butler. He keeps a crashed bike helmet in his office to help illustrate the importance of head protection to his patients.

TMA physicians, medical students, and TMA Alliance members - the volunteer arm of TMA - gave away more than 4,000 bicycle helmets to children during the October Hard Hats push. This exceeded TMA's original goal of distributing 3,200 helmets during the month. TMA hosted helmet giveaways from the panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley. Hard Hats physicians and volunteers also teach parents and children about the importance of wearing a helmet that fits properly.

Head injury is the most common cause of death and serious disability from bike crashes. Bicycle helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent, yet only about 50 percent of cyclists wear a helmet when they ride. Texas physicians want to ensure Texas children are wearing bicycle helmets and wearing them correctly.

"We want to make the sport safe for people to enjoy, free of injury," said Olga Duchicela, MD, a family medicine physician in Weimar. Dr. Duchicela cosponsored an event in her town, motivated by a tragedy. Last year a local child was not wearing a helmet, crashed, and suffered a concussion. "The accident became a catalyst for change in the community," Dr. Duchicela added. She and her colleagues gave out helmets and advice at their Oct. 20 event.

TMA's Hard Hats for Little Heads program is sponsored by its philanthropic arm, the TMA Foundation, thanks to a generous donation from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and gifts from physicians and their families. TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 42,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA's key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

Texas Medical Association