KENNEBUNK — Kennebunk Police and Fire Rescue personnel have a message for children on bicycles: Watch your heads.
The two departments have partnered with Kennebunk Savings and Dairy Queen to offer young bike enthusiasts better access to bicycle helmets. On Monday, town personnel and sponsors gathered at the Summer Street fire station for the official launching of the initiative, which has been in effect for about two months.
Those involved said that summer is the best time to promote bicycle safety and to spread knowledge about the helmet give-away, which is part of an effort to reduce the number of traumatic head injuries that happen to bike riders, particularly children.
“An estimated 23,000 children suffer a head injury every year associated from bicycling,” said Deputy Fire Chief Andrew Turcotte. “A bike helmet is a very effective device that can prevent the occurrence of up to 88 percent of serious brain injuries.”
Riders under the age of 16 are already required by Maine law to wear protective head gear while operating a bicycle. An extension of Maine Law Title 29A states that “a person under 16 years of age who is an operator or a passenger on a bicycle on a public roadway or a public bikeway shall wear a helmet of good fit, positioned properly and fastened securely upon the head by helmet straps.”
Still, members of the Police and Fire Rescue divisions have seen children in town riding without protection. Many riders may not be aware of the existing law, and Turcotte said that many children may come from disadvantaged families who don’t have access to helmets.
“We saw a need in this area,” said Turcotte. “We’ve witnessed a lot of kids without helmets.”
Among those at the fire station Monday were Kennebunk Police Officer Audra Presby and her two sons, Tristan, 10, and Gavin, 6, both riding bikes, and both with helmets affixed to their heads. Presby was one of the many Police and Fire personnel who collaborated in bringing the project to life; she hopes that the department will be successful in spreading the message of safety.
“If (the police) see a kid riding around without a helmet, they hand one out,” she said. “We want our name associated with safety in the city.”
Kennebunk Fire Rescue and Police personnel, while on patrol, will be handing out Dairy Queen gift certificates, donated from the establishment, to young riders who are already wearing their helmets. For those without, Kennebunk Savings has donated money for the purchase of 100 bicycle helmets, which police officers will be carrying on patrol; they will provide the helmets to those youths seen riding without the required form of protection.
“Community is all about organizations working together,” said Heather Harris, assistant vice president of Community Relations at Kennebunk Savings, “and I know the bank is pleased to see such a worthwhile collaboration which will benefit the kids in Kennebunk.”
Turcotte stressed that if anyone is in need of a helmet, they can call either Fire Rescue or the Kennebunk Police Department. Police Chief Robert MacKenzie was optimistic about the impact the program will have on the town.
“This program will make our community safer,” he said.
— Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 319 or jlagasse@journaltribune.com.
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