1. School Helmet Policies Fostering Student Success by Preventing Brain Injury

2. Policy Makes A Difference Percent Helmet Use Before Intervention After Intervention Oroville, Butte County, CA Observations conducted Feb/May 1999 and Nov/May 2001

3. Why The Need For Helmets? Even moderate brain injury Can result in problems with  comprehension  memory  speed of thinking  behavior

4. Developmental Foundation Children should receive consistent messages at home, in school, and from the community.

5. Community Norm Change Helmet policies are one component of a comprehensive effort to prevent injury, disability and death…think what we have done about drunk driving or second hand smoke.

6. Components of a School Helmet Policy  Policy Statement adopted by governing board  Letter to Parents  Bicycle Safety Agreement

7. What Can Schools Do to Increase Bicycle Safety?  Encourage Increased Helmet Use  Implement Bicycle Safety Education  Implement Broader Traffic Education

8. What Can Schools Do to Increase Bicycle Safety? (cont’d)  Create a Bike-friendly School Environment –Security –Traffic patterns –Safe Routes to School  Support well-maintained bicycles and helmets –Education –Bike Rodeos

9. Bicycle Helmet Standards  Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)  March 10, 1999  Minimum standards for safety –impact –strap

10. Consumer’s Role  Look for stickers inside helmet  Learn to fit helmet correctly  Wear helmet correctly  Inspect helmet for damage on a regular basis  Bike safely

11. Scooters, Skates and Skateboards  Popularity of extreme sports  Wearing the “gear” is becoming cool  Expansion of bicycle helmet law effective January 1, 2003  Motorized vs. non-motorized scooters

12. Scooters, Skates and Skateboards (cont’d)  Until CPSC establishes a standard, engineering and medical experts recommend that a helmet meeting the ASTM F1492 standard for "extreme" sports be worn  It does not have to “look” like a bicycle helmet

13. Appendices  California Bicycle Helmet Law  Mild Head Trauma Fact Sheet  California School Board Association Sample Policy  Sample Letter To Parents Introducing Policy

14. Appendices  Bicycle Safety Agreement  Tips For Parents About Bicycle Helmets  Safe Routes to School  Resources