GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Griffins are holding their 16th annual “Lids at the Library” bike helmet giveaway this week in partnership with the Grand Rapids Public Library and the Kent District Library.
Children ages 1-12 can go to the library to get a helmet free of charge. The helmets will be sized by volunteers from the Griffins, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital’s Injury Prevention Program and program sponsors. They can also meet the Griffins’ mascot, Griff, and parents can learn how to fit a helmet and helmet safety.
The event is part of the Griffins’ 21st annual “Put A Lid On It!’ bike helmet safety program, which is presented by the children’s hospital.
Vice President of Communication for the Griffins Randy Cleves said that the program encourages kids to be safe, even if it’s not on the ice.
“We encourage kids from you know, soon as they can get onto a bike all through their adult years, as they grow up to wear a helmet whenever they ride their bike,” he said. “When they're on their scooter, rollerblades, whatever wheeled sports it is.”
Giving out helmets is one part of the program, according to Injury Prevention Coordinator with the hospital Jodie Westra.
“I think the biggest piece is encouraging those adults to wear the helmets as well because leading by example is going to help them also want to do the same thing and kind of mimic what their parent is doing,” she said.
Westra said that wearing a helmet reduces the risk of injury by about 45%, but less than half of children wear helmets.
“If we can increase that number and influence children's safety, that is excellent,” she said.
After getting a helmet, children and their parents can go to the Griffins’ website and make a helmet-wearing pledge in exchange for two free Griffins tickets for the next season.
Cleves said it’s just one way the organization can use its position to make an impact in the community.
“The Griffins have been good for a really long time. You know, winning Calder cups and winning division championships and getting long playoff runs and that sort of thing,” he said. “But this is, to me, is really where we make our biggest impact in the community.”
Wednesday’s event at Grand Rapids Main Library sized helmets for around 100 children. The Griffins’ and DeVos Children’s Hospital will have more helmets at Kent District Library’s Kentwood Branch on Friday, July 10 from 10-11 a.m. for the second stop on their “Lids at the Library” event.
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