Sheldon, Iowa — If you happened to see a Sheldon Community Ambulance Team ambulance parked outside East Elementary School last Wednesday, August 28th, or outside Sheldon Middle School this Wednesday, September 4th, don’t worry, they weren’t there due to illness or injury.
On Wednesday August 28th, SCAT members stood watch near the bicycle racks at East Elementary School, talking to each student who arrived on a bicycle, scooter or blades, and who was wearing a helmet. SCAT Director Kevin Miller tells KIWA that each student who wore their helmet proudly was offered a free ice cream certificate to Casey’s General Store. Miller says just 8 of the 24 students who were on bikes, scooters or blades was wearing a helmet. That’s just 33.3-percent helmet use at the grade school level in Sheldon.
On Wednesday September 4th, SCAT members conducted a similar operation at the Sheldon Middle School. Miller says that 3 of the 5 middle school moped riders were wearing helmets, while just 1 of the 18 students who arrived at school by bicycle was wearing a helmet, for a total of 4 out of 23, or 17.4-percent at the middle school.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2016, 51-percent of bicyclists died as a result of not wearing a helmet. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that in 2015, 37 children age of 14 and under were killed and 5,000 injured in bicycle accidents.
Miller asks that you encourage those you know to use helmets when they ride. He says if you have any questions on bicycle safety, or any other safety tips, please reach out to any member of the Sheldon Community Ambulance Team.
