TMA to Give More Than 1,600 Helmets to Texas Kids in April

 April 3, 2018

  • WHAT: The Texas Medical Association’s (TMA’s) Hard Hats for Little Heads program will give away more than 1,600 bicycle helmets to children in April — designated as Child Safety Month in Texas — to protect them from head injuries. TMA physicians and other volunteers will give Texas kids the free bicycle helmets at events across the state. They also will teach parents and children the importance of properly fitting the helmet for maximum 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 nearly 300,000 helmets to Texas children since the program began.  
  • WHEN: April 5-28, 2018  
  • 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), and other volunteers — and Texas children
  • WHY: Texas physicians urge Texas children to be active, and do so safely. Wearing a helmet that fits correctly is a simple way to prevent injury. Falls from cycling are the No. 1 cause of injury to children aged 14 and younger. 

Hard Hats for Little Heads is supported in 2018 through a TMA Foundation grant thanks to its Legacy of Caring Endowment and top donors — an anonymous physician and spouse, TMAF Make-A-Difference donors, and the Texas Academy of Family Physicians — and generous unrestricted gifts from TMA and TMA Alliance members, 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 2018
All events are open to the public unless otherwise noted.

4/5    
Event: Community Health Fair (school event only, not open to the public)    
Local Sponsor: Gabriel Neal, MD, and Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine TMA Chapter*    
Location and Time: Union Hill Elementary, 1511 Gulf Way, Round Rock, 5:30-7:30 pm
 
4/7   
Event: Cops and Kids
Local Sponsor: Hale-Floyd-Briscoe County Medical Society     
Location and Time: Kidsville, 3400 W. Fourth St., Plainview, Noon-5pm    

4/7    
Event: 5th Annual Health & Family Fun Fair    
Local Sponsor: Suhaib Haq, MD*     
Location and Time: El Bari Community Health Center, 5281 Casa Bella, San Antonio, 11 am-4 pm    

4/14    
Event: Houston Injury Prevention Bike Rodeo    
Local Sponsor: Houston Emergency Nurses Association    
Location and Time: First Texas Hospital, 9922 Louetta Rd., Houston, 10 am-Noon    

4/14    
Event: Hard Hats for Little Heads      
Local Sponsor: Lucy Haberthier-Ryan, MD, and UTMB Health Lake Jackson Pediatrics    
Location and Time: Brazos Mall, 100 TX-332, Lake Jackson, 11 am-2 pm    

4/14    
Event: Hawk Fest    
Local Sponsor: Kalpana Kelkar, MD, and Kids First Pediatrics**    
Location and Time: Pediatric Dental World, 2300 Village Pkwy., Highland Village, 1-5 pm    

4/14    
Event: Bike Safety Rodeo    
Local Sponsor: Richard Selvaggi, MD, and Live Oak Professional Center*    
Location and Time: Downtown Square, Main St., Commerce, 1-3 pm    

4/14    
Event: Marine Creek Health & Safety Fair     
Local Sponsor: University of North Texas Health Science Center- Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine TMA Chapter, and Northwest YMCA    
Location and Time: Marine Creek Fields, 2596 Jim Wright Fwy., Fort Worth, 10 am-1 pm    

4/17    
Event: West Garland Bicycle Day Celebrating the Week of the Young Child (school event only, not open to the public)    
Local Sponsor: Dallas County Medical Society Alliance    
Location and Time: West Garland Head Start, 3709 W. Walnut St., Garland, 9:15 am    

4/21    
Event: Safety City’s Healthy Summer Festival    
Local Sponsor: Janice Stachowiak, MD, and Lubbock County Medical Society Alliance    
Location and Time: Safety City in Clapp Park, 46th Street and Avenue U, Lubbock, Noon-2 pm    

4/21    
Event: United to Serve Health Fair     
Local Sponsor: Dan Sepdham, MD, and UT Southwestern Medical School TMA Chapter*    
Location and Time: Thomas J. Rusk Middle School, 2929 Inwood Rd., Dallas, 9 am-2 pm    

4/21    
Event: Earth Day ATX 2018     
Local Sponsor: Earth Day Austin, Yellow Bike Project, Bicycle Sport Shop, and CommUnity Care Health Centers*    
Location and Time: Huston-Tillotson University, 900 Chicon St., Austin, Noon-7 pm (3 pm giveaway for child bikes; 5 pm giveaway for adult-sized bikes)   

4/23    
Event: Hard Hats for Little Heads (school event only, not open to the public)    
Local Sponsor: Tushar Shah, MD, and Big Country County Medical Society Alliance**    
Location and Time: Lee Elementary School, 1026 N. Pioneer Dr., Abilene, 9-11 am    

4/23    
Event: iBike Rosemont (school event only, not open to the public)    
Local Sponsor: Susan Bacsik, DO, and Rosemont Dad’s Club    
Location and Time: Rosemont Elementary School, 719 N. Montclair, Dallas, 8 am    

4/25    
Event: Hard Hats for Little Heads (school event only, not open to the public)    
Local Sponsor: Al Chorens, MD, and La Grange Breakfast Lions    
First Location and Time: Hermes Elementary School, 631 E. Milam St., La Grange, 8:05 am
Second Location and Time: Sacred Heart Catholic School, 580 E. Pearl St., La Grange, 10:30 am

4/28    
Event: UTHealth Stomp Out Stroke Festival    
Local Sponsor: UTHealth McGovern Medical School    
Location and Time: Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney, Houston, 9 am-3:30 pm    

4/28    
Event: Baylor Scott & White Clinic-Austin Northwest Community Open House    
Local Sponsor: Terrance Hines, MD, and Baylor Scott & White Health*    
Location and TimeBaylor Scott & White Clinic- Austin Northwest, 9800 N. Lake Creek Pkwy., Austin, 9-11 am    

*The Texas Academy of Family Physicians (TAFP) provided funding for this giveaway, which is sponsored by a family physician.

**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 51,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 112 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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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

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Last Updated On

February 18, 2020

Originally Published On

April 03, 2018