Area fire stations giving away free bike helmets for kids

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Story Published: May 15, 2008 at 4:19 PM PST

By Azenith Smith

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COOS BAY - With the warm days recently, more kids may be wanting to enjoy the sunshine and ride their bikes, and to make sure they're safe, local fire departments are once again offering proper head gear.

The Coos Bay Fire Department, in cooperation with the Bay Area Optimist Club, are giving away 150 free bike helmets to children ages four to 11, on a first come, first serve basis, from now until they run out.

Fire Chief Stan Gibson says they decided to do the project after seeing a need for it several years ago.

"It became a natural that bike helmets would be something we would want every child to wear while they are rollerskating or doing their skateboarding or bicycling," says Gibson. "We feel this is really a natural tie-in for emergency preparedness and emergency service."

Now in its 5th year, they've provided more than 1,000 bike helmets to area children with many of them returning.

"Every year, it's interesting that we see a lot of the same kids who have gotten bigger so what started out as a five-year-old is now coming in as a 10-year-old wanting another helmet," says Gibson. "That's exactly what the program is for."

To get a helmet, they ask parents to bring their child so they can get the right size. Myrtle Point and Charleston Fire Departments are also participating in the effort at this time.

Also, current law states that any child under the age of 16 must wear a helmet when they're riding a bike, or parents could be fined up to almost $80.

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