The Carmel Fire Department has launched its new community safety program encouraging people to “Be a Helmet Hero,” which is designed to encourage safe biking/skating practices by promoting helmet use among cyclists in the city.
This initiative aims to reduce the risk of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), particularly among children, by rewarding safe biking and skating behavior with sweet incentives.
Through the Helmet Heroes program, Carmel firefighters will keep an eye open while out on the city’s streets and trails for cyclists and skaters who are riding safely and wearing helmets. Those demonstrating proper helmet use are eligible to receive a free ice cream coupon, generously donated by local ice cream shops, including Sub Zero, Dairy Queen, and Culver’s.
TBIs are a significant concern, especially for children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 812,000 emergency department visits for TBIs occur annually among children and adolescents under 18 in the United States, with falls and vehicle crashes being leading causes. In 2021 alone, TBIs contributed to over 69,000 deaths nationwide, with children ages 4 and under particularly vulnerable to severe outcomes from falls, a common cause of bike-related injuries. Wearing a properly fitted helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by up to 88 percent, making initiatives like Helmet Heroes critical for protecting young riders.
Thacker
“We’re thrilled to launch Helmet Heroes as a fun and engaging way to promote bike safety in our community,” Fire Chief Joel Thacker said. “By rewarding cyclists/skaters for wearing helmets, we hope to instill lifelong safety habits and reduce the risk of traumatic brain injuries, especially for our kids. We’re grateful to our local ice cream shops for their generous support in making this program a reality.”
The Helmet Heroes initiative will run July 21 to July 31, while supplies last, with firefighters actively engaging with the community to spread the message of helmet safety. The Carmel Fire Department encourages all residents to buckle up their helmets, ride responsibly, and become a Helmet Hero.