WILMINGTON – The third annual Bike Rodeo to promote bike helmet safety is set for Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at J.W. Denver Williams Park in Wilmington.

The Clinton County Health Department, Wilmington Bicycle Club, Wilmington Parks and Recreation and Wilmington Kiwanis along with the Aktion Club and the Clinton Massie, East Clinton and Wilmington Key Clubs have partnered with the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to hold the event and to promote Bike Helmet Safety Awareness Weeks May 9-21. The statewide public awareness campaign’s goal is to continue to encourage adults and children to wear their helmets.

The bike rodeo will include a bike safety inspection and skills course with non-competitive fun for bicyclists ages 5 to 12. The rodeo will also feature a bike raffle and rodeo certificates and goody bag for riders who complete the stations. Free bike helmets will be available while supplies last. Registration link is http://bit.ly/bikerodeo2016.

In 2010, 51,000 people were injured by not wearing a bike helmet, and apart from the automobile, bicycles are tied to more childhood injuries than any other consumer product including trampolines, ladders and swimming pools.

“We’re proud to partner with the Ohio AAP to promote Bike Helmet Safety Awareness Weeks,” said Pamela Walker Bauer, Clinton County Health Commissioner. “By hosting a bike rodeo in our community, we can teach our local children the importance of wearing a helmet when riding a bike, and help them learn how to safely ride a bike in their neighborhood.”

A combination of efforts is necessary to effectively increase helmet usage rates among Ohio children including raising awareness of the benefits, encouraging modeling behavior among adults, distributing bike helmets to Ohio children and advocating for supportive public policies.

To learn more about Bike Helmet Safety Awareness Weeks, visit the Put A Lid On It Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bikehelmetsafety or the Chapter website at www.ohioaap.org.