TMA to Give Away More Than 1,900 Bicycle Helmets to Texas Children in October
Oct 1, 2010
Pam Udall
phone: (512) 370-1382
cell: (512) 413-6807
Pam Udall
|
|
Brent Annear
phone: (512) 370-1381
cell: (512) 656-7320
Brent Annear
|
- WHAT: In an effort to protect children from head injuries and encourage fitness, the Texas Medical Association's Hard Hats for Little Heads program will give away more than 1,900 bicycle helmets during Brain Injury Awareness Month in October.
- WHEN: Oct. 1-31, 2010
- WHERE: Across the state (see schedule below)
- WHO: TMA physicians, medical students, TMA Alliance members (TMA physician volunteers and TMA members' spouses), and county medical societies
Texas physicians want to ensure Texas children are wearing bicycle helmets, and wearing them correctly, to avoid head injuries.
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. Even fewer wear them correctly.
Throughout October, which is designated as Brain Injury Awareness Month, Texas children will receive free bicycle helmets at giveaway events across the state sponsored by TMA physicians and other volunteers. Parents and children will learn about the importance of wearing a helmet, especially one that fits properly.
TMA physicians encourage the use of helmets for every wheeled sport, including biking, skateboarding, inline skating, and when riding a scooter. Doctors also encourage children to ride their bikes as often as possible to stay fit and healthy.
Below is a schedule of TMA's Hard Hats for Little Heads events across the state. Look for one in your community. Reporters: To learn more about TMA's Hard Hats for Little Heads program or your local event, please contact Pam Udall or Brent Annear in TMA's Media Relations Department.
TMA's Hard Hats for Little Heads Schedule: October 2010
Date
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Event
|
Local Sponsor
|
Location
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10/1
|
AUE Gator a Go-Go Bike Rodeo
|
Dalys Gomez, MD; Comet Cleaners, and AUE Elementary PTA
|
AUE Elementary, 24750 Baywater Stage, San Antonio ; 7 am-noon
|
10/2
|
Bike rodeo
|
Kathy Caraway Elementary PTA
|
Kathy Caraway Elementary, 11104 Oak View Dr., Austin ; 9:30 am-12:30 pm
|
10/2
|
Fair on the Square (helmet safety booth)
|
Walker-Madison-Trinity County Medical Society (CMS) and Huntsville Memorial Hospital
|
Town Square, Huntsville ; 9 am until helmets are gone
|
10/2
|
Health-a-rama (helmet safety booth)
|
Victoria-Goliad-Jackson CMS Alliance
|
Victoria Mall, 7800 N. Navarro, Victoria ; 10 am-4 pm
|
10/9
|
Helmet giveaway
|
Lake Whitney Physicians Clinic
|
Lake Whitney Physicians Clinic, 202 E. Jefferson, Whitney ; 10 am
|
10/9
|
Flu shot clinic and bike helmet safety education/
giveaway
|
Humberto Rivas, MD, (Sievers Medical Clinic)
|
Sievers Medical Clinic, 1110 N. Sarah DeWitt Dr., Gonzales ; 8:30 am-noon
|
10/9
|
Cy-Fair Family Fest
|
Angelina Ayoola, MD; Kimberly Fields, FNP; and First Metropolitan Health and Wellness Ministry
|
Berry Center, 8877 Barker Cypress Rd., Cypress ; 9 am-3 pm
|
10/15
|
Bike-A-Thon
|
Sejal Desai, MD
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DAV Montessori, 14375 Schiller Rd., Houston ; 9-11 am
|
10/22
|
Fall Fest
|
Christine Wan, MD; City of Odessa; and Pilot Club
|
McKinney Park, Pool Road and Crane Avenue, Odessa ; 3-6 pm
|
10/23
|
Madisonville Mushroom Festival (Hard Hats for Little Heads booth)
|
Mary Helen Morrow, MD, Henson Motors, and Guardian EMS
|
On the square in Madisonville , Corner of Hwy. 21 and Hwy. 90 (Madison Street); 10 am-5pm
|
10/23
|
Bike rodeo
|
Max Health Family Medicine and Flower Mound Police Department
|
Flower Mound High School, south parking lot, 3411 Peters Colony, Flower Mound ; 11 am-2 pm
|
10/30
|
Helmet Giveaway (also includes flu vaccinations, raffle for bicycle, and food/games for kids)
|
Baylor College of Medicine Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program
|
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Health Center, 3550 Swingle Rd., Houston ; 1:30-4 pm
|
10/30
|
Bike safety day/helmet giveaway (includes drawing for free bike)
|
Port Lavaca Clinic Associates PA with John B. Wright, MD, and Jeannine Griffin, MD; and Port Lavaca Police Department
|
Port Lavaca Clinics Associates, 1200 N. Virginia St., Port Lavaca ; 10 am-noon;
|
10/31
|
Helmet giveaway
|
Texas Chinese Physicians Association and Tzu Chi Foundation
|
Tzu Chi Foundation, 534 W. Belt Line Rd., Richardson ; 10 am-2 pm
|
Throughout the month
|
Helmet giveaways/safety education during pediatric office visits
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JPS Health Center Northeast
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JPS Health Center Northeast, 837 Brown Trl., Bedford
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TMA's Hard Hats for Little Heads is sponsored by its philanthropic arm, the TMA Foundation, thanks to generous donations from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and Prudential Financial, and gifts from physicians and their families. Since the program began, physicians and their families have given away more than 80,000 helmets to Texas children. TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 45,000 physicians and medical students. 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.
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