Mark Your Calendar To Outfit Your Child With A FREE Bike Helmet

Some adults still don't wear bike helmets and on rare occasion I see a child without one.    If you have a child or children that either doesn't have a bike helmet or has outgrown theirs, here is your chance to pick one up for free from  Essentia Health-St. Mary's Children's Hospital and Kohl's Cares.

There are 22 states in our nation that have a bike helmet law, however, Minnesota and Wisconsin are not included in that number.

In Minnesota: The trails.com website reports the opposition are against the requirement because they don't want the government telling them what to do, others feel helmets are not as effective and would instead like to see better education instead.  The MN Health Department believes that helmets would prevent injuries.  Two-thirds of the 600,000 yearly injuries on bicycles happen with young people under the age of 16.

In Wisconsin:  Wisconsin does not have a mandatory bike helmet law for adults or children.  However, cities and towns can create their own rules for riding bicycles. According to avvo.com, the city of Port Washington Wisconsin has a municipal ordinance that requires children under 16 years old to wear a helmet while biking.

According to Essentia Health's healthy living magazine, they will distribute 1,500 free bike helmets within an hour and a half in the parking lot of Kohl's, 2115 Miller Trunk Highway in Duluth on Thursday, September 10 from 4:30-6pm.  Attendance to this event is usually epic, but before you stand in line, you should be aware that your child/children need to be present for proper fitting.  They also have a free shuttle that will be available from 4-6:30 from the Hobby Lobby parking lot, 1734 Mall Drive.

Thank you to the Kohl's Cares program funding this program with a grant for $24,680.  They have generously donated to this cause every year since 2006!

MN Information Via:  trails.com

WI Information Via:  avvo.com