Elementary students in Oak Ridge receive bike helmets as part of safety program

Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Michael Swigert fits a third-grader from Linden Elementary School with a bicycle helmet. (Submitted photo)

Every two minutes, a child is treated in an emergency medical department for an unintentional bicycle-related injury. This year, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital is working to change these statistics through partnership with the “Kohl’s Cares” Helmet Safety Program, which promotes safety events in which educational materials and bicycle helmets are provided to local school children.

Approximately 2,000 helmets are distributed through this program in the 16 counties that are serviced by East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. This year, two elementary schools from the City of Oak Ridge were chosen to partner with East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and were the recipients of child bicycle helmets. On March 27, students of the third-grade class at Glenwood Elementary School received 80 helmets, and on April 22, Linden Elementary third-grade students were presented with 150 helmets.

Members of the Oak Ridge Police Department and Oak Ridge Fire Department assisted with the distribution of educational material and provided individualized fittings of each helmet.