Plan a helmet giveaway during Brain Injury Awareness Month in October

Promote helmet safety among youth in your community by coordinating a Hard Hats for Little Heads bicycle helmet giveaway event during Brain Injury Awareness Month in October. The Texas Medical Association program places emphasis on head injury prevention and a helmet giveaway during this month brings forth the positive message of family physicians’ commitment to safety and concern for the community.

Last year, physicians across the state held 25 events and handed out 3,400 helmets during Brain Injury Awareness Month. TMA hopes to exceed last year’s success by hosting at least 35 events across the state.

TAFP members play an important role in Hard Hats for Little Heads, exhibiting to their communities that family physicians care for patients of all ages. For that reason, the Academy contributes 50 helmets to TAFP-member volunteers, matching TMA’s 50-helmet contribution and making these events free for TAFP-member family physicians.

Along with helmets, TMA provides a host of educational materials, such as a step-by-step outreach kit, posters, flyers, banners, an educational DVD featuring a TMA physician and media relations support. All materials are available in English and Spanish.

In anticipation of Brain Injury Awareness Month, TMA will send a statewide news release listing each event to attract media attention for helmet safety and to help draw local media to these events.

Hard Hats for Little Heads was created by TMA in 1994 to help children more safely enjoy wheeled activities, such as biking, skateboarding and in-line skating. TAFP has been a partner in the program for the past four years. Hard Hats for Little Heads is funded by TMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Association, through a grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and contributions from physicians and their families, and TAFP’s participation is funded by a grant from the AAFP Foundation.

To find out how you can get involved, visit www.texmed.org/hardhats or contact Tammy Wishard, TMA outreach coordinator, at (800) 880-1300, ext 1470, or tammy.wishard@texmed.org. You may also visit the TAFP Hard Hats Web site for more information on TAFP’s involvement and to order free “Family Docs Care 4 Kids” glitter stickers.