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May 5, 2009
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Pam Udall
Phone: (512) 370-1382
Cell: (512) 413-6807
Pam Udall
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Brent Annear
Phone: (512) 370-1381
Cell: (512) 656-7320
Email: Brent Annear
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WHAT:The Texas Medical Association (TMA) Hard Hats for Little Heads program will give away more than 3,300 bicycle helmets across the state during Bike Month in May.
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WHEN: May 1-31, 2009
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WHERE: Communities across the state (see schedule below)
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WHO: TMA physicians, medical students, TMA Alliance members (volunteers who are TMA members and spouses), and county medical societies
Physicians want children to get plenty of exercise — and to be safe when they do. As summer approaches, Texas physicians want to ensure kids use a helmet when they participate in sports on wheels — biking, skateboarding, inline skating, and when riding a scooter.
Most head injuries from bike accidents can be prevented by using a helmet correctly. In fact, bicycle helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent; yet only about half of cyclists wear a helmet when they ride.
During Bike Month in May, physicians are sponsoring helmet giveaway events across the state to show their concern for good health and safety. TMA physicians and other volunteers will give away more than 3,300 helmets at 20 events across the state.
Of particular note, every child in kindergarten through eighth grade in the 14,000-square-mile area of Brewster, Presidio, and Jeff Davis counties will receive a new helmet. TMA’s Hard Hats for Little Heads, the Texas Office for Prevention of Developmental Disabilities, and Leadership Big Bend are collaborating to sponsor the eight events in that region.
Three family physicians, James Luecke, MD, David Sanchez, MD, and Adrian Billings, MD, PhD, spearheaded the events. Each is involved in the Leadership Big Bend project, and each has sponsored other Hard Hats for Little Heads events in their local community of Alpine.
“We are in an isolated area of the state, and the nearest Level 1 trauma center is in El Paso, between 210-300 miles away depending on where in our three counties the child lives,” Dr. Billings said. “The nearest pediatric neurosurgeon is in Lubbock — six hours from Alpine.” That is why the physicians believe it is imperative to keep the children safe and prevent head injuries.
Since the Hard Hats for Little Heads program began, TMA has given away more than 60,000 helmets to Texas children.
TMA’s Hard Hats for Little Heads Schedule: May 2009
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Date
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Event
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Local Sponsor
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Location
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5/6
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School assembly, bike rodeo following in P.E. classes
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Ector County Medical Society ( (CMS) Alliance
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Dowling Elementary, 1510 E. 17th St., Odessa, 1 pm
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5/8
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In-school giveaway during kindergarten P.E. classes
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Ector CMS Alliance
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Reagan Magnet, 2321 E. 21st St., Odessa, 12:45 pm
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5/9
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Bike rodeo
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Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, Texas Department of Transportation, City of Waco, Waco ISD, and Waco Fire Department
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Waco ISD Stadium, 1401 S. New Rd., Waco, 10 am-2 pm
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5/9
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Family Safety Day
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David Greer, MD, and Thirty Minute Club
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Clay County Memorial Hospital, 310 W. South St., Henrietta, 10 am-1 pm
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5/11
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Bike rodeo
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Drs. Adrian Billings, David Sanchez, and Jim Luecke, and Leadership Big Bend
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Alpine Middle School, 705 W. Sul Ross Ave., Alpine, during P.E. classes
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5/12
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Bike rodeo
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Drs. Adrian Billings, David Sanchez, and Jim Luecke, and Leadership Big Bend
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San Vicente ISD, 195 Escuela Vista, Big Bend National Park, during P.E. classes
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5/13
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Bike rodeo
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Drs. Adrian Billings, David Sanchez, and Jim Luecke, and Leadership Big Bend
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Terlingua ISD, Terlingua, during P.E. classes
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5/13
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Bike rodeo
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Drs. Adrian Billings, David Sanchez, and Jim Luecke, and Leadership Big Bend
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Alpine Elementary, 200 West Ave. A, Alpine, during P.E. classes
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5/13
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In-school event
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Coker Elementary PTA
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Coker Elementary, 302 Heimer Rd., San Antonio, 8:55 am
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5/13
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Bike rodeo
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Jefferson County Medical Society Alliance
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Bingman and Blanchette elementaries’ gym, 5265 S. Kenneth St., Beaumont, K-2nd assembly 12:30 pm,/3rd-5th assembly 1:45 pm
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5/15
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In-school event
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Deep Wood Elementary PTA
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Deep Wood Elementary, 705 St. Williams Ave., Round Rock, all day
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5/16
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Bike rodeo
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Dr. and Mrs. Rex Hyer, and Cub Scout Pack 135
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Western Hills Methodist Church, 2820 Laredo, Fort Worth, 10 am
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5/16
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Health fair
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Denise Dang, MD; Conroe Chamber of Commerce; Conroe Regional Medical Center
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Conroe Regional Medical Center (heart & vascular covered parking area), 504 Medical Center Blvd., Conroe, 10 am-2 pm
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5/18
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Bike rodeo
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Drs. Adrian Billings, David Sanchez, and Jim Luecke, and Leadership Big Bend
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Marfa ISD, 300 N. Gonzales St., Marfa, during P.E. classes
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5/19
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Bike rodeo
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Drs. Adrian Billings, David Sanchez, and Jim Luecke, and Leadership Big Bend
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Marathon ISD, 109 N. 5th St., Marathon, during P.E. classes
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5/20
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Bike rodeo
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Drs. Adrian Billings, David Sanchez, and Jim Luecke, and Leadership Big Bend
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Valentine ISD, 1st and Kentucky, Valentine, during P.E. classes
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5/21
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Bike rodeo
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Drs. Adrian Billings, David Sanchez, and Jim Luecke, and Leadership Big Bend
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Fort Davis ISD, N. State St, Fort Davis, during P.E. classes
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5/29
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In-school assembly for kindergartners
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Ector CMS Alliance
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Gale Pond Elementary, 801 E. 23rd St., Odessa, 3 pm
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5/30
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Bike rodeo, helmet giveaway
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Think First
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Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Dr., The Woodlands, 9 am-1 pm
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5/1-5/30
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In-office giveaways during appointments
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Sai Primary Care
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Sai Primary Care, 9223 Broadway (FM 518), Ste. 107, Pearland
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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. TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 44,000 physician and medical student members. It is located inAustin 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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Last Published: 5/7/2009 Print this page
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