Kids get free helmets at ‘Train Your Brain’ eents

Hundreds of Bend-La Pine Schools elementary students will be equipped to enjoy summer activities more safely, thanks to a district-wide community partnership among The Center Foundation, Bend Memorial Clinic Pediatrics and Bank of the Cascades.

The three local organizations have teamed up with the school district for the second year in a row to expand The Center Foundation’s Train Your Brain program, a month-long initiative to educate every third-grader in the Bend-La Pine Schools about brain injury prevention and the importance of helmet safety.

Between now and June 9th , Train Your Brain events will be held for third-graders at each of the district’s 14 elementary schools. Monday’s kick-off event was held at Pine Ridge Elementary.

As part of the program, at least 1,200 students with unsafe or no head gear will receive free, high-quality helmets in time for popular summer activities, such as bike-riding and skateboarding.

“It’s well documented that brain injury among youth is recently on the rise. To help reverse this trend locally, The Center Foundation started Train Your Brain to educate and equip students in a fun, engaging program,” said Sonja Donohue, executive director for The Center Foundation.

“We are grateful to the school district for incorporating this important safety initiative across all local elementary schools, as well as to Bend Memorial Clinic Pediatrics and Bank of the Cascades for helping us reach our goal to provide free helmets to every local third-grader who needs one.”

Each year, about 400,000 children under the age of 15 are treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries. An additional 300 children are killed. Bicyclists ages 5 through 14 have among the highest injury rates of all riders.

Helmets provide the best protection against injury, whether a child is riding a bike, scooter, skateboard, or using skates, and can reduce the risk of severe brain injuries by up to 88 percent.

“Brain injuries are often life-threatening and life-changing. In many cases, they are also preventable,” said Dr. Brooks Booker, a pediatrician at Bend Memorial Clinic. “The Center Foundation’s Train Your Brain program is an outstanding local resource that is undoubtedly preventing related injuries and protecting our community’s most precious asset — our children.”

According to The Center Foundation, helmet use is highly recommended for all wheeled sports activities regardless of age, and proper fitting is critical to ensure safety at impact. For children, the foundation advises purchasing a helmet only after the child has tried it on. Multi-sport helmets are also recommended if a child participates in numerous wheeled sports.

During Train Your Brain events, students bring their current helmets to school for a safety evaluation and fitting by an expert.

“Bank of the Cascades prioritizes support for organizations that strengthen schools and promote student well-being. The Center Foundation has been doing excellent preventative work related to concussions and other head and spinal cord injuries among children. We are proud to partner with the foundation to raise awareness of these important issues and help reduce the number of preventable brain injuries in our community,” said Julie Miller, Bank of the Cascades executive vice president and Oregon Region president.