CARE for Children, through its leadership of the Safe Kids Pennsylvania – McKean County Partnership, recently provided more than 400 free bicycle helmets and bike safety education to kindergarteners across McKean County and in Coudersport.

With funding from a Safe Kids Pennsylvania mini-grant, the initiative delivered age-appropriate safety instruction in six local school districts: Bradford, Kane, Smethport, Port Allegany, Otto-Eldred and Coudersport. Every child who participated received a properly fitted helmet and a helmet ID sticker, along with bike safety materials for parents.

“Helmet use is the single most effective way to reduce head injuries and fatalities in bicycle crashes,” said Kimberly Engstrom, child safety educator/preschool director at CARE for Children. “According to Safe Kids Worldwide, proper helmet use can reduce the risk of head injury by at least 45%, yet less than half of children 14 and under wear one regularly.”

The CARE-led program featured the book “Play It Safe” by Mercer Mayer to teach the basics of bicycle safety, including helmet use, hand signals, and obeying traffic signs. The effort aimed to increase helmet usage and instill lifelong safety habits.

Representatives said the project exceeded its goals in that:

95% of kindergarten students received a helmet

There was more than a 50% increase in students expressing willingness to wear helmets

100% of teachers agreed the program was age-appropriate and beneficial

“Programs like this are especially important in rural communities,” said Tina Martin, executive director of CARE for Children. “Child safety and injury prevention offer an incredible return on investment. Our goal is not only to provide education, but also to ensure that every child has the safety items they need to prevent accidental injuries.”

Pennsylvania’s mandatory bicycle helmet law requires children younger than 12 must wear a helmet while riding a bicycle, or while a passenger in a bicycle restraining seat or trailer. Children’s toys known as “big wheels” are excluded. The bike helmet law is intended to encourage children to wear helmets. People cited for violating the law will have their citation dismissed if they buy a helmet.

The Safe Kids Pennsylvania – McKean County Partnership first launched the initiative in 2016 and has since expanded countywide, reaching hundreds of students annually. In areas with high poverty rates, the program helps remove financial barriers to safety equipment.

This year’s success was made possible by partnerships with local school districts, volunteers from Zonta Club of Bradford, and volunteers and community partners including PennDOT, the Highway Safety Network, United Way, Journey Health Systems, Pennsylvania Department of Health and the YMCA.

Grant funding for the program was provided by the PA Department of Health Preventative Health and Health Services Block Grant through Safe Kids Pennsylvania, the Port Allegany and Smethport campaigns for United Way, and the Kane United Fund. Other Safe Kids programming is supported by the CARE for Children Trust, United Way of the Bradford Area Inc., grants, sponsorships and individual donations.

Safe Kids Pennsylvania – McKean County Partnership is a collaborative effort of local organizations, businesses and individuals who support child safety and injury prevention efforts targeted to local needs. CARE for Children provides the leadership and fiscal oversight and support of the program

For more information on CARE for Children’s programs or to support child safety initiatives, visit careforchildren.info.