ThinkFirst Navajo, Eve’s Fund’s injury prevention program, supported the Kayenta Bike Rodeo held on July 14 in Kayenta, Arizona on the Navajo Nation. ThinkFirst Navajo supplied safety helmets to 25 participating students from ages 5-17.
What is a bike rodeo?
Bike rodeos are events in which young cyclists practice their bike handling skills and receive safety training from skilled instructors with the objective of reducing the likelihood of crashes and injuries. These engaging and fun events have been popular nationwide for many years.
The July 14 Kayenta Bike Rodeo was sponsored by the Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Department of Kayenta Health Center in collaboration with Kayenta Unified School District. Ms. Ernestine Cleveland, the Center’s Health Education Coordinator, organized the event with assistance from volunteers and other team members.
Causes of kids bike crashes
According to the Cornell University’s guide for bicycle rodeo organizers, the three big causes of car/bike crashes for kids are:
• Riding out of a driveway/side road without stopping
• Failing to stop for stop signs
• Suddenly swerving without looking back
Other common causes of accidents include riding on the wrong side of the street and riding at night without proper lighting and reflective clothing. According to Cornell, the majority of crashes and serious injuries don’t involve cars; the cyclist simply loses control of the bike and crashes to the ground.
Importance of wearing a helmet at all times
The importance of wearing a safety helmet at all times while riding is emphasized during bike rodeos and children may not participate without a properly fitted helmet, such as those donated by ThinkFirst Navajo at the July 14 and other similar events on the Navajo Nation.
Navigating the Obstacle Course
After being properly fitted with a shiny new helmet provided by Eve’s Fund and undergoing a bicycle safety check (e.g. tires, brakes, etc.), the students navigated an obstacle course with seven stops where key safety skills were reinforced. The objective was to ensure each child knew how to operate his or her bike safely. Skills to be mastered included: mounting and dismounting the bicycle, changing direction and turning in circles, steering through tight spaces, having the ability to stop quickly, using proper hand signals to indicate turns and properly navigating stop signs, traffic lights and pedestrian crossings.
Helmets on Heads Pledge
Upon successful achievement of the Kayenta bike rodeo program, the young participants received a Certificate of Completion. The students also signed the “Helmets on Heads” form pledging to wear their safety helmet at all times and encouraging their friends and family to do the same.
Helmets on Heads is a national helmet safety education campaign started in 2012 by Schwinn, in partnership with ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation, with the primary goal of reducing head injuries from bicycle related crashes.
Support our Safety Helmet Program: Help us prevent injuries in at-risk youth
Due to the pandemic, the July 14 bike rodeo in Kayenta was conducted on a modest scale with a limited number of students. Eve’s Fund looks forward to supporting larger-scale bike rodeos in the near future, which will pull from our dwindling inventory of free helmets for the students in need. These certified helmets are of good quality and are purchased with a non-profit discount by our ThinkFirst Navajo program from a caring wholesaler. Please consider supporting this important program by making an online donation through out secure website by clicking the link below and choosing the “ThinkFirst Navajo – Kids Safety Helmets” designation. If you prefer to donate offline, you can mail us a check at:
Eve’s Fund, PO Box 3592, Newport, RI 02840.
Thank you!
For more information about any and all of our programs, contact us through our website at: https://evecrowellsfund.org/contact-us/.
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