March 30, 2017
- WHAT: The Texas Medical
Association’s (TMA’s) Hard Hats for Little
Heads
program will give away more than 2,300 free bicycle helmets to children in April — designated as Child Safety Month in Texas — to protect them from brain and head injuries. TMA physicians and
other volunteers will give Texas kids free bicycle helmets at giveaway events
across the state. They also will teach parents and children the importance of properly
fitting the helmet for best protection.
TMA
created Hard Hats for Little Heads in 1994 to help prevent head injuries by
encouraging helmet use for all types of sports on wheels: bicycling,
skateboarding, rollerblading, and riding a scooter. TMA has given more than 260,000 helmets
to Texas children since the program began.
- WHEN: April 1-29 (specific events throughout the month)
- WHERE: Communities statewide, including yours (see
schedule below).
- WHO:
TMA physicians, medical students, TMA Alliance members (volunteers who are TMA
physicians and TMA members’ spouses), county medical
societies, and other volunteers — and Texas children
- WHY: Texas physicians urge Texas children to be
active, and do so safely. Cycling is the No. 1 cause of injury to children ages 14
and younger. Wearing a properly fitted bicycle
helmet is a simple way to prevent injury to the brain
and the head.
TMA’s Hard Hats for Little
Heads program is supported by a
grant from TMA Foundation (TMAF), TMA’s philanthropic arm, thanks to generous funding from Blue
Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) through its Healthy Kids,
Healthy Families (HKHF) initiative. These events during Child
Safety Month support HKHF’s efforts to improve childhood health and wellness. BCBSTX has been
the major supporter of Hard Hats for Little Heads since 2006. Additional donors
are TMAF
Make-A-Difference donors, and the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio. The grant also is
supported by gifts from physicians and their families, and friends of medicine.
Below is a schedule of TMA’s April Hard Hats for
Little Heads events across the state. Look for one in your community.
TMA’s Hard Hats for Little Heads Schedule: April 2017
4/1
Hawk Fest
Sponsor: Kalpana Kelkar, MD,** and Kids First Pediatrics
Where: Pediatric Dental World, 2300 Village Pkwy., Highland Village, 1-5 pm
4/1
Earth Party
Sponsor: Tarrant County Medical Society (CMS) Alliance
Where: Fort Worth Water Gardens, 1502 Commerce St., Fort Worth, 11 am-1 pm
4/1
4th Annual Health & Family Fun Fair
Sponsor: Suhaib Haq, MD*
Where: El Bari Community Health Center, 5281 Casa Bella, San Antonio, 11 am-3 pm
4/1
Scudder Bicycle Rodeo (school event only, not open to the public)
Sponsor: Scudder Primary School PTO
Where: Blue Hole Park, 501 Old Kyle Rd., Wimberley, 1-3 pm
4/1
Annual Health & Wellness Fair
Sponsor: Khalida Yasmin, MD,* and American Muslim Women Physicians Association
Where: IANT Richardson, 840 Abrams Rd., Richardson, 10 am-1:30 pm
4/3
Morningside Elementary School Bike Club (school event only, not open to the public)
Sponsor: Dorothy Overman, MD*
Where: Morningside Elementary, 3855 Morningside Dr., New Braunfels, 8 am
4/5-4/13
Bicycle Safety Unit K-6 (school event only, not open to the public)
Sponsor: Heart of Texas Regional Advisory Council
Where: Hallsburg Elementary, 2313 Hallsburg Rd., Waco, time varies
4/6
Community Health Fair-Parents Night (school event only, not open to the public)
Sponsor: Robert Wiprud, MD,* and Texas A&M College of Medicine TMA Chapter
Where: Union Hill Elementary, 1511 Gulf Way, Round Rock, 5:30-7:30 pm
4/19
Helmet Giveaway (school event only, not open to the public)
Sponsor: Jefferson CMS and Alliance
Where: Lucas Elementary, 1750 E Lucas Dr., Beaumont, Noon
4/22
Earth Day ATX 2017
Sponsor: Earth Day Austin, Yellow Bike Project, and Bike Austin
Where: Huston-Tillotson University, 900 Chicon St., Austin, Noon-7 pm
4/22
United to Serve-TMA Bike Safety
Sponsor: Dan Sepdham, MD,* and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School TMA Chapter
Where: Thomas J. Rusk Middle School, 2929 Inwood Rd., Dallas, 9 am-2:30 pm
4/22
Walk-n-Rolla
Sponsor: Hidalgo-Starr CMS
Where: Edinburg City Hall Courtyard, Edinburg, 8 am-1 pm
4/23
Earth Day 2017
Sponsor: Travis CMS Alliance
Where: Radha Madhav Dham Hindu Temple, 400 Barsana Rd., Austin, 1-3 pm
4/25
Helmet safety (school event only, not open to the public)
Sponsor: Dallas CMS Alliance
Where: West Garland Head Start, 3709 W. Walnut St., Garland, 9 am
4/25
Hard Hats for Little Heads (school event only, not open to the public)
Sponsor: Big Country Medical Alliance
Where: Martinez Elementary, 1250 Merchant St., Abilene, Noon-2 pm
Boys & Girls Club at Martinez Elementary, 1250 Merhant St., Abilene, 4-4:45 pm
4/25
Bike Rodeo (school event only, not open to the public)
Sponsor: Willis Independent School District
Where: Mel Parmley Elementary School, 600 N. Campbell St., Willis, 5:30-7:30 pm
4/27
Hard Hats for Little Heads (school event only, not open to the public)
Sponsor: Al Chorens, MD, and La Grange Breakfast Lions
Where: Sacred Heart Catholic School, 580 E. Pearl St., La Grange, 10:30 am
Hermes Intermediate School, 631 E. Milam St., La Grange, 1 pm
4/29
YMCA Healthy Kids Day
Sponsor: Mark Ward, MD,** and Baylor College of Medicine Pediatric Student Association
Where: YMCA of Greater Houston, 2600 N. Loop West, Ste. 300, Houston, 10 am-1 pm
4/29
YMCA Healthy Kids Day
Sponsor: Midland CMS and Midland YMCA
Where: Midland YMCA, 800 N. Big Spring St., Midland, 9 am-Noon
4/29
Refugee Health Fair
Sponsor: Baylor College of Medicine Global Health Interest Group, and Freewheels Houston/Christ the King Lutheran Church
Where: Baker Ripley Neighborhood Center, 6500 Rookin St., Houston, 9 am-3 pm
4/29
Mission Fitness Spring Fling Health Famly & Kids
Sponsor: Violeta Bello, MD,** and Permian Basin Bicycle Association
Where: Mission Fitness Center, 8050 E. Hwy. 191, Odessa, 8 am-1 pm
*The Texas
Academy of Family Physicians
(TAFP) provided funding for this giveaway, which is sponsored by a TAFP member.
**The Texas
Pediatric Society (TPS)
provided funding for this giveaway, which is sponsored by a TPS member.
TMA is the largest state
medical society in the nation, representing more than 50,000 physician and
medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 110 component county
medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to
improve the health of all Texans.
--30--
Contact: Brent Annear (512) 370-1381;
cell: (512) 656-7320; email: brent.annear[at]texmed[dot]org
Marcus
Cooper (512) 370-1382; cell: (512) 650-5336; email: marcus.cooper[at]texmed[dot]org
Click here to follow TMA on Twitter. Or visit TMA on Facebook.
Check
out MeAndMyDoctor.com for interesting and timely news on health care issues and
policy.