Safe Kids Snohomish County, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Department, Lynnwood Fire and Lynnwood Police helped celebrate Bike to School Day at Cedar Valley Community School earlier this month.
The event brought together children, parents and educators to raise awareness about bike safety and pedestrian safety.
Nearly 500 students and staff received bike and pedestrian safety education with more than 100 free bike helmets given away. An estimated 75 children rode their bikes or scooters to school with about 25 more walking with caregivers. The entire school participated in a coloring and poster contest to promote safety and health.
This time of year many kids are treated in the emergency department for traumatic brain injuries. More children ages 5 to 14 are seen in emergency rooms for injuries related to biking than any other sport.
“Helmets can reduce the risk of severe brain injuries by 88 percent,” said Shawneri Guzman, Safe Kids Snohomish County Coordinator and Trauma Data Analyst for Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. “However, many children simply do not wear them. We have a simple saying, ‘Use your head. Wear a helmet.’”
Last year, Cedar Valley Community School had four children struck by cars on their way to school in the span of one week. Each year, 112 children ages 19 and under die from bicycle-related injuries and more than 289,000 nonfatal bicycle injuries occur. Bike to School Day is an important opportunity for students to learn how to remain injury-free as they bike to and from school.
“We teach kids the dos and don’ts of the road,” says Guzman. “Bike to School Day brings together children and community members to learn how to have fun while riding safely to school.”
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