Local Leaders
Many leaders in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area have come out in support of Bicycle Helmet Legislation.
"Our community continues to advocate for our most important resource, our children, with injury prevention initiatives to improve their health. The potential decrease in significant head injury to children and adults with bicycle helmet use needs to be legislated locally. Just as immunizations and other health promoting projects began voluntarily, but became mandated to insure success, so must the bicycle helmet be our 'immunization' from serious head injuries to riders. Place our children and young adults' safety first in support of the bicycle helmet legislation!"
Richard M. Ruddy, M.D.
Director, Emergency Services
Children's Hospital Medical Center
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
"Bicycle related injuries among children remains a challenge for the Greater Cincinnati Area. Despite efforts, in 1997, Children's Hospital Medical Center admitted 105 children for bicycle related injuries. Ninety-two percent of those children were not wearing helmets. There's still work to be done!"
Victor Garcia, MD
Director, Trauma Services Cincinnati Children's
"Children are our most precious asset! In the last twenty years as a police officer/supervisor I have had several occasions to respond to auto accidents involving bicyclists who were children. In many of these accidents the children received various injuries including head injuries. Although none of the injuries resulted in the death of the child, many required transportation to the hospital for x-rays and stitches. I feel that in nearly all of the cases, had the child been wearing a bicycle helmet, they would not have received head injuries. Making bicycle helmets for children under the age of sixteen mandatory is a logical solution to a critical issue."
Stephen G. Luebbe Lieutenant, Cincinnati Police Department
"On December 4, 2000, the council of the Village of Glendale, Ohio, passed an ordinance requiring all juveniles riding bicycles, scooters, skate boards, roller blades or other wheeled devices that are human powered, to wear an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or Snell Memorial Foundation, (SNELL) approved safety helmet. Glendale, Ohio, became the first community in Hamilton County, and only the second in the Southwest Ohio region to take such a step for the purpose of children's safety.
"As police chief, I fully supported this measure, as did every officer on our department. The evidence presented by those who are 'in the know,' most notably Children's Hospital emergency staff, about the alarming injuries sustained by children was compelling. All of us in the public safety professions can relate stories of accidents that would have been 'minor' in nature had only proper safety equipment been worn. I felt that we have a duty to take the necessary steps to ensure children's safety and to support the great majority of parents in favor of this legislation. Many parents related that the ordinance reduced the argument about wearing helmets to the simple statement of 'Hey, it's the law here in Glendale'.
As of January 24, 2001, we have had no violations of the ordinance observed, with a noticeable increase in helmet usage. The coming warm weather will no doubt result in some violations observed, however we are very pleased and encouraged by the initial effects of this very worthy piece of local legislation."
Matthew E. Fruchey
Police Chief, Village of Glendale
