1

Renaissance_Unity_Brown_TopAuburn Hills Police Share ctechadPassion for Bike Safety
(Police Chief Doreen Olko, Auburn Hills Police Chief Blog, May 24, 2015)
Our officers have been participating in bike safety events around town lately.  The goal is to teach kids (and their adults) the safe rules of the road.  We do two bike “rodeos” in partnership with the Optimist Clubs of Auburn Hills (Morning and Noon) at Will Rogers Elementary School and at R. Grant Graham Elementary.  We’ve done these programs from many years at these 2 locations.
Sahara ad with wineA new addition this year on May 15 was the Safe Wheels and Heels Program at Will Rogers Elementary.
We were invited to assist in the program by McLaren Hospital and United Health Care.
McLaren Oakland trauma services, in partnership with United Healthcare Community Plan, have provided the Safe Wheels & Heels Program to all second graders in the Pontiac and Oxford school districts since 2009.
The program was started in response to a significant number of patients between the ages of 6-10 years of age treated in their Emergency Department for injuries associated with bicycle riding.  An educational school assembly is provided, offering students a day of education and Judy_Palmer30yearsinteractive safety activities related to bicycles, pedestrian safety, stranger danger, and when/how to call 911. At the end of the assembly, each student is given a new helmet.
Later the same date, officers and the Noon Optimist Club held a bike rodeo/hot dog roast for kids at Will Rogers that was open to the neighborhood.  The officers registered bikes (so we can get them back to the owners if we find them where they shouldn’t be) and gave out free bike helmets. Officers reported that the majority of kids did not have helmets.
On May 19 officers held another bike rodeo at Grant Graham elementary.   Officers again steele lindbloom adregistered bikes and gave away bike helmets.
I’m a tad frustrated that so many kids (and their adults) still don’t wear bike helmets when riding.  It is incredibly dangerous for your noggin if you should fall from your bike without a helmet.  I have been on scenes where people were killed when they took a fall and hit a curb while not wearing a helmet – it’s not that uncommon.  How can I convince you that you won’t look silly, and they are not hot, and that you want to wear one for the people who love you and depend on you?
Take a look at this link for more information:
Bike Helmet Safety
20150524_auburn_hills_police_0001 20150524_auburn_hills_police_01Renaissance_Unity_Brown_Bottom