Hard Hats for Little Heads

COLLEGE STATION-Texas--Texas ENT & Allergy, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Texas A&M Athletics and Texas Medical Association, along with supporting sponsors encouraged child safety by giving away free bicycle helmets Tuesday, March 3rd. The program was held on the Texas A&M campus at Reed Arena.

For 12-years now, approximately 3,900 bike helmets were presented to surrounding area second graders. This year’s event included Bryan ISD, College Station ISD, Navasota ISD, Brenham ISD, Anderson-Shiro ISD, Mumford ISD, Snook ISD, Hearne ISD, Burton ISD, Iola ISD, Madisonville ISD, Caldwell ISD, Franklin ISD and Somerville ISD. Presentations were made by Aggie Athletes in sports such as equestrian, softball, baseball as well as football on the importance of helmet use and safety.

Hard Hats for Little Heads was created by Texas Medical Association in 1994 to educate children about how to prevent head injuries. For best protection, participants should wear the appropriate helmet for the activity they are participating in, and ensure it is properly fitted and structurally sound. The program, presented locally through the Healthy World Healthy Children Foundation, has impacted more than 36,000 second-graders during this twelve-year period.

Hard Hats for Little Heads is supported in 2020 with a TMA Foundation grant thanks to a donation from an anonymous physician and spouse, and donors who matched their generous gift.

On average, 250 children in the United States under the age of 14 die each year because of a bicycle crash. Another 300,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for severe head injuries. Many of these accidents could have been prevented if the children had worn bicycle helmets. Helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent, yet only about 40 percent of cyclists wear one when they ride. Healthy World Healthy Children, Texas ENT & Allergy, Texas A&M Athletics, and participating sponsors want to ensure our kids are wearing helmets when they ride, glide or drive.

The event concludes each year with a rivalry on the court with the Annual Hard Hats for Little Heads Relay which all schools participate. For years Navasota Mayor Bert Miller led Navasota to multiple titles. During Miller’s absence in 2019 Navasota City Manager Brad Stafford took over the reins and Navasota took a big step backwards finishing in last place. Miller helped Navasota on the journey back to the top finishing in third-place this year. Miller vows to return Navasota to dominance and never relive 2019.

Hearne finished first in the relay and Iola finished in second-place.