Spring time brings out the bicycles. UnityPoint Health® – Grinnell Regional Medical Center, the Grinnell Regional medical staff, area businesses and individuals will again team up to prevent head injuries by giving 550 new bicycle helmets to third grader in the GRMC service area this spring.

GRMC staff, community volunteers and Bikes to You owner, Craig Cooper, will give a brief educational presentation to the students in each area school about how to practice bike helmet safety at the time of the distribution.

“If you have wheels under your feet, have a helmet on your head.” These words should echo in the heads of all youth after they have received their free bicycle helmet. Each year since 1996, GRMC, the Grinnell Regional Medical Staff and Bike to You have organized and distributed free bike helmets to third graders.

“As an organization committed to health and wellness, GRMC strongly encourages everyone to exercise, and riding bikes is a great way to do that. Promoting safe biking education and providing a bike helmets to young people as they build healthy lifestyles remains our goal with this program,” says Holly Pettlon, GRMC wellness specialist and bike helmets program coordinator. “We enjoy working with students to make life-long safe habits for wellness.”

Helmets will be given to students in 12 schools – Brooklyn (BGM), Central Iowa Christian Academy, East Marshall, Green Mountain Garwin (GMG), Grinnell-Newburg, Lynnville-Sully, Meskwaki Settlement, Montezuma, North Mahaska, Sully Christian, South Tama and Victor (HLV).