13,000 bicycle helmets distributed across Ohio

COLUMBUS – This summer, thousands of children across Ohio will be biking safer thanks to the “Put A Lid On It” Campaign—a statewide effort to get free bicycle helmets into the hands of kids who need them.

With support from the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), and American Honda Motor Company, the campaign is providing 13,000 helmets to 179 organizations in 61 counties. Helmets are being distributed through pediatricians’ offices, local health departments, police and fire stations, schools, and many other community partners.

In our regional area, the following organizations were recipients:

Allen-
Activate Allen County
Lima Memorial Hospital
Lima Police Department (Safety City)

Auglaize-
Wapakoneta Fire Department
Auglaize Wapakoneta Police Department

Logan-
Mary Rutan Health

Marion-
Marion Public Health

Wyandot-
Carey Chamber of Commerce
Wyandot County Public Health

Since the program began in 2011, more than 100,000 helmets have been donated to help protect children while they ride. Along with the helmets, groups receive bike safety training materials and guidance on how to properly fit helmets—making it easier for families to keep kids protected on every ride.

“ODOT plays a key role in improving bicycle safety from providing funding and other support to construct safe routes for bicyclists and pedestrians to supporting education and outreach,” said ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn. “We’re proud to support the “Put A Lid On It” campaign—it helps make helmet-wearing as routine as buckling a seatbelt and builds lifelong habits of safe riding.”

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, there were 1,337 bicycle-related crashes in the state last year. Sadly, 23 of those were fatal, and 189 caused serious injuries.

“Wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of serious head injuries by as much as 85%—but right now, only about 10 to 20 percent of kids in Ohio wear one when they ride,” said Ohio AAP Chief Executive Officer Melissa Wervey Arnold. “That’s why this campaign is so important. We’re grateful to all of our partners who are working together to make biking safer for Ohio’s children.”

Beyond the helmet program, ODOT also works with communities across Ohio to support active transportation through planning, education, and funding—making it safer and easier for people of all ages to walk and bike where they need to go.

For a complete list of recipients, please click here.