Donation drive for bicycle helmets under wayAugust 11, 2010Houston Northwest Medical Center is sponsoring a monetary donation drive to purchase bicycle helmets for Cypress Creek EMS’ (CCEMS) bike rodeo program. Proceeds from the drive will help purchase helmets for local children who participate in the program that is designed to increase awareness of bicycle safety. Donations can be made until Thursday, September 30 in a monetary donation box that has been placed in the Women’s Atrium of the hospital, located at 710 FM 1960 Road West. “Bicycle injuries send approximately 300,000 children to the emergency room every year and some children even die, usually due to head injuries,” says Levon Vartanian, M.D., emergency medicine physician on the medical staff at Houston Northwest Medical Center and Cypress Creek EMS medical director. “That is why it is so important for children to learn about bicycle safety and always wear a helmet when they are riding a bicycle to decrease the risk of brain injury.” According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, wearing a properly fitting helmet reduces the risk of serious head injuries by 85 percent. The bike rodeo includes a helmet fit station, as well as bike maintenance check, street sign education, and an obstacle course. Since its inception in 2008 with support provided by The Tenet Healthcare Foundation and Houston Northwest Medical Center, CCEMS has educated more than 3,000 children through the traveling bike rodeo program. |