With the arrival of warmer weather and daylight savings, this period has traditionally meant an increase in bicycle, scooter and skateboard accidents. Many of these accidents could easily be preventable more children and teenagers wore safety helmets.
On Wednesday 13 November at 10am, Kidsafe in association with Rosebank Helmets and the Safety Centre at the Royal Children’s Hospital will be launching a community awareness campaign to encourage children and teenagers to wear Australian Standards approved safety helmets when enjoying bicycle, scooter and skateboard recreational activities.
Lending her support to the campaign is the Director of Neurosurgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Dr Wirginia Maixner. Each year, Dr Maixner operates on a number of patients who have sustained serious head injuries from bicycles, scooters and skateboards and she can’t urge parents and children enough about the importance of wearing a safety helmet.
One such patient of Dr Maixner’s is 11 year old David Simpson who will be attending the launch to lend his support to the campaign.
Four years ago, Dr Maixner operated on David Simpson after he was airlifted to the hospital from Mt Buller. David had sustained extensive head injuries as a result of a mountain bike accident. Despite David wearing a helmet and it absorbing some of the impact of the fall, his injuries included a fractured skull, broken nose, leaking brain fluid, an eye socket fracture and broken wrist.
According to Dr Maixner, “Had David not been wearing a helmet he probably wouldn’t be here with us today. You just can’t afford to gamble with your head, you only have one and a serious head injury can result in life time sentence.”
“Whilst some kids think that safety helmets are uncool, there’s certainly nothing cool about ending up in hospital. If the choice is to look cool and risk death or wear a helmet, all kids should definitely choose the helmet.” said David.
A special preview of a community announcement featuring Dr Maixner to be aired on Prime Television from today will be shown at the launch.
- WHAT: Safety Helmet Awareness Campaign
- WHEN: Wednesday 13 November at 10am
- WHERE: Ella Latham Meeting Room, Level 1, Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Rd, Parkville
Available for interview:
- David Simpson and his parent’s Julie and Brett
- Dr Wirginia Maixner, Director of Neurosurgery, Royal Children’s Hospital
- Ed Szwaja, Director of Kidsafe
For further information, please contact Kate Stronach, Public Affairs, Royal Children’s Hospital, 9345 5138 or page on 9345 5522.
Media coverage
This event appeared on:
- Ch 9 News 13/11
- ABC Radio 13/11
- Herald Sun 14/11