What: Kids' Helmet Giveaway

When:Saturday, Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Where: Vandergriff Skate Park, 2800 S. Center St., Arlington, TX 76014

Wearing a bicycle helmet can prevent almost 85 percent of head injuries, but less than half of all kids ages 5 to 14 wear a helmet, according to the Texas Medical Association (TMA). And even of the children who do wear helmets, only about one-third wear them correctly, says the TMA.

To help combat preventable injuries, Arlington is hosting a helmet giveaway on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. to noon at Vandergriff Skate Park. Nancy Marshall, Deputy Court Clerk II for the Arlington Municipal Court and Traffic Safety Program Coordinator, is organizing the event with a matching grant from the Texas Medical Association, which declared October "Hard Hats for Little Heads Month" in celebration of the program's 20th birthday.

The City is purchasing 50 helmets, and the TMA will donate an additional 50 helmets. TMA is able to fund its Hard Hats for Little Heads program thanks to top donors - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Prudential, and an anonymous foundation - and gifts from physicians and their families, and friends of medicine.

Eight students from the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicinewill be at the event to find a properly sized helmet for each child and help educate children and parents about correct use of helmets.

"We hope that every participant that attends this event will leave with an understanding of the importance of wearing their helmet correctly and how it can save their life," Marshall said. "We want them to leave the event with the skills to properly fit their helmet correctly 100 percent of the time."

Arlington's Parks and Recreation Department is providing music for the event, and restrooms will be available in the Bob Duncan Center.

Helmets will be given out on a first come, first served basis, and the helmet must fit a child's head correctly in order to receive it. The following quantities will be available: 35 small, 40 medium, 15 large and 10 extra-large.

If you have questions, pleases contact Nancy Marshall at [email protected].