Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office partners with Brain Injury Association of New Jersey

The partnership will include safety brochures, school presentations, and the distribution of up to 100 free bicycle helmets.  During the upcoming school year, the partnership will also include an essay contest on helmet safety with participating sixth grade classes from across Monmouth County.

“Brain injury is the leading cause of death in bicycle crashes and the leading cause of disability among survivors.  Yet less than a quarter of children wear bicycle helmets. The protective benefits of bicycle helmets are astounding,” said Sheriff Joseph W. Oxley.  “Helmets can prevent up to 90 percent of brain injuries.  Bicycle helmets are not just a good idea, but are the law for children under the age of 14.”

At the kickoff event at the Monmouth County Fair, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office will distribute informative helmet safety literature.  The Sheriff’s Office worked with BIANJ on a cooperative brochure that will also be distributed at Safe CARGO child safety seat inspections, Ident-A-Kid child fingerprinting programs and SEEK 9-1-1 emergency dialing lessons throughout the county.

The partnership will also feature an essay writing contest sponsored by BIANJ.  Six middle schools from across Monmouth County will be invited to enter a “Helmet Safety Essay Contest.”  The top 100 essayists from the sixth grade will be awarded free bicycle helmets and all participants will receive prizes and helmet safety information.  The Sheriff’s Office will participate in a speakers bureau that will see bicycle helmet awareness enter the classroom.

BIANJ is a statewide membership organization dedicated to providing education, outreach, prevention, advocacy and support services to all persons affected by brain injury and to the general public.  Everyday in the United States of America, one child dies from bicycle related trauma, and an additional 50 are injured. While, over half a million Americans suffer from bicycle-related injuries each year, according to the BIANJ, 350,000 of those injured are children.

“Now that summer is here, you will see many children and adults bicycling.  This is why it is the right time of the year for the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey, Inc. and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office to work together and launch this helmet safety awareness campaign,” said Jill Schulman of BIANJ.  “People must realize brain injury, unlike a broken bone, can last forever.”

According to the New Jersey Bicycle Manual, anyone under 14 years of age who rides a bicycle, or is a passenger on a bicycle or is towed as a passenger by a bicycle must wear a safety helmet. Further, the law was extended in August of 1998 to include roller and inline skates, as well as skateboards.

“The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to the safety of all our residents,” said Sheriff Oxley. “Through partnerships and proactive prevention campaigns, such as this with the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey, we can educate residents about the importance and correct use of bicycle helmets.”

For more information, contact Monmouth County Sheriff Joseph W. Oxley at (732) 294-5901 or log onto www.visitmonmouth.com/sheriff . For more information on brain injuries, visit www.bianj.org.