Sen. Tedisco, Fulton County Sheriff Giardino, Mayfield Mayor Ward, Gloversville Supervisor Potter, Gloversville Police Chief Porter, Herkimer County Undersheriff Scherer Kick-off Safe Summer Bike Helmet Program to Encourage Kids to Wear Helmets

MAYFIELD--Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C,I,REF-Glenville) today kicked-off his 2018 Safe Summer Bike Helmet program for Fulton, Hamilton and Herkimer Counties to encourage children to wear their bike helmets for summer safety.

This is the 21^st year of Senator Tedisco’s public safety program, and to celebrate, he led the Mayfield Summer Recreation program attendees in a bike ride and then scooped free ice cream cones donated by Stewart’s Shops.

This year’s Safe Summer Program will distribute 5,000 “good tickets” for free ice cream cones to reward children who wear their helmets while bicycling, skateboarding, and rollerblading, and give free bike helmets to kids who need one. 

Tedisco’s program uses positive reinforcement to get all neighborhood kids into the habit of wearing their helmets for safe biking and promotes positive interactions between children and law enforcement.  The Safe Summer program is made possible thanks to donations from participating businesses: Stewart’s Shops, Friendly’s, Hayner’s Ice Cream Hall of Fame in Halfmoon and Ben & Jerry’s.  The law firm of Martin, Harding and Mazzotti LLP is donating hundreds of new bike helmets to police departments in the 49^th Senate District to distribute to children who need them. 

“Summer is the season for kids to have fun but we can’t ever forget that they need to keep safety in mind.  I want children to enjoy the summer but I also want them to be safe when they’re riding their bicycles. My Safe Summer program reminds kids to wear their helmets while rewarding good behavior with coupons for free ice cream,” said Senator Tedisco. “This program is a true community partnership among businesses, law enforcement, government and parents and it’s truly a model for how caring people can come together and promote a fun and safe environment for children. Safe Summer also provides positive interactions between law enforcement and kids.”

Participating police departments that will distribute free ice cream coupons and bike helmets to kids include: Fulton County Sheriff, Gloversville Police, Johnstown Police, Hamilton County Sheriff, Herkimer County Sheriff, Saratoga County Sheriff, Schenectady County Sheriff, Glenville Police, Clifton Park Town Security, Saratoga Springs Police, Ballston Spa Police, Scotia Police, Stillwater Police, City of Schenectady Police, Niskayuna Police, and Rotterdam Police.

It’s the law in New York State that children up to age 14 must wear a bicycle helmet or parents could face $50 fine. According to the New York State Department of Health, an average of 54 New Yorkers are killed each year in bicycle crashes and 19,000 residents are treated at a hospital due to bike-related injuries.  Head injuries are the leading cause of death and permanent disability in bicycle crashes, accounting for more than 60 percent of bike-related deaths. The cost of a bicycle helmet is approximately $20.00. The average charge for a hospital stay due to a bicycle related brain injury is $23,000 with an average length of stay of four days. In New York, annual hospitalization charges related to care for persons with a bicycle related brain injury is $20 million.

The Safe Summer Program aims to address these alarming statistics by using positive reinforcement to get all neighborhood kids into the habit of wearing their helmets for safe biking, in-line skating, or riding a skateboard or scooter. 

“Senator Tedisco's Safe Summer Bike Helmet Safety Program is an excellent program for several reasons.  They include promoting safety while bike riding, reducing injuries to young people and improving relationships between law enforcement and children in the communities we serve. I thank Senator Tedisco, Stewart’s, Friendly’s, Martin, Harding & Mazzotti and all the sponsors for making the program a success,” said Fulton County Sheriff Richard C. Giardino.

“The Safe Summer Bike Helmet Safety program is an innovative way to encourage young people to wear their bike helmets that Senator Tedisco has brought to Fulton County and the Mayfield Summer Recreation Program and I’m proud to join the Senator to once again implement the Safe Summer initiative here in Fulton County,” said Village of Mayfield Mayor Jamie Ward.

“Senator Tedisco continues his dedication to keeping Gloversville and all of Fulton County’s children safe.  This is a great program with strong community support that I’m delighted to work with Senator Tedisco and our local law enforcement on promoting to Fulton County kids,” said Gloversville Supervisor Charlie Potter.

 “At Stewart’s Shops, we want kids to have fun, but we also want them to be safe! And what’s more fun than ice cream in the summer? We are proud to partner with the Safe Summer Bike Helmet Program to reward kids with ice cream for wearing their helmets while riding their bikes,” said Erica Komoroske, Stewart’s Shops spokesperson.

“Martin, Harding & Mazzotti LLP is once again proud to partner with New York State Senator Jim Tedisco and his Safe Summer Bike Helmet Safety Program. Working together, we can make a difference and hopefully prevent head injuries by offering free helmets to those who need one,” said Daniel P. Dagostino, Supervising Attorney.