March is “National Brain Injury Awareness Month.” The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS) has collaborated with the New York State Police and other local police agencies, to bring the 7th Annual “Design Your Own Helmet” Contest to all first and second graders.

“When I speak with the kids, I try to make the information relate to them. It allows for them to understand the importance of protecting their brain. I tell them that they need to wear a helmet if they are bicycling, roller skating, roller blading, skateboarding and scootering. If you are strapping wheels to your feet, you need to be strapping a helmet to your head,” School Resource Officer Trooper Wittner said.

Each school submits the top five helmets for each grade level to BIANYS, where they are judged, on the county level. The Amsterdam Chapter of BIANYS sponsors the contest for all first and second graders of Fulton, Montgomery and Schoharie Counties. Each county is judged independently of the other counties.

According to Trooper Wittner, in 2005, more than 1,800 first and second graders in Fulton, Montgomery and Schoharie counties participated. The coloring content is meant to be something fun for the children to do while learning the importance protecting them against needless injury or death because:

• Almost 80% of all bicycle fatalities involve a head injury, and
• 43% of children, between the ages of 5 and 9, die from head injuries.

This year the High School’s Students Against Destructive Decisions Chapter worked very diligently to select the following to represent our school:

First Grade:

• Nate Rose

• Marissa Miller

• Daniel Parslow

• Alex Montanye

• Anne Sinicropi

Second Grade:

• Howard Moore
• Kendra Sweet
• Richard Spencer
• Skyler Hesch
• Taylor Cihanek

New York State law requires all children under the age of 14 to wear a helmet if they are riding a bicycle, roller skating, roller blading or scootering and the parent or guardian is subject to a $50.00 fine.

If you have further questions, please call Trooper Wittner at 853-4415 Ext 4911 or email him.

<back