10,450 Third Graders

According to the University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center, injuries are the leading cause of death for Iowans age 1 to 34. The Burden of Injury report maintains that wearing a helmet can significantly reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent. Furthermore, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that bicycle riders who are not using a helmet are 14 times more likely to die than those who are wearing a helmet.

Children and youth often receive safety education about how wearing the right protective gear is important. However, in order for them to actually reduce the risk of injury, they must have a helmet to wear when they use wheeled sports equipment including bicycles, scooters, skateboards, in line skates, and similar equipment. It is not always feasible for parents to provide safety equipment for their children when it is needed.

For nearly 20 years, community businesses, individuals, and service clubs have partnered with GRMC and the medical staff to provide a bike helmet fitted to every third grader in our six county service area. It’s an amazing project that began with the GRMC medical staff in 1996. By the end of May 2015, 10,450 bike helmets will have been presented to third grade students over the past 19 years. That’s a lot of precious minds.

If you want to be a part of this project, go to this link on our website.

Or do it the old school way and make your check payable to GRMC, designating “bike helmets” in the memo line. Mail to us at GRMC, Communications and Development, 210 Fourth Avenue, Grinnell, IA  50112 and we’ll use it to help protect a child.