Safety in helmets

Deepa Bharath

The human brain is as delicate as a glob of jiggling Jell-O in a jar.

That was a slimy piece of information to swallow for fifth- and

sixth-grade students at Davis Elementary School who heard Costa Mesa

police officers talk about the dangers of getting on a bicycle

without a helmet.

The informational session on Friday morning was the last of the

Police Department’s Bicycle Safety Program lectures targeting

fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students.

On Friday, Costa Mesa Police Officer Bryan Wadkins showed students

a film about Travis, a boy who had suffered a brain injury after

being thrown 120 feet off his bicycle in a traffic accident. In the

video, Travis talked about how he spent several months in the

hospital and had to relearn basic skills such as eating, swallowing

and walking.

“A common excuse for not wearing a helmet is ‘I feel

uncomfortable,” Wadkins told the students. “Is it more uncomfortable

to sweat and get your hair messed up a little bit or spend all that

time in the hospital?”

The film also showed an experiment in which a brain model made of

Jell-O survived when placed in a helmet. It lost a few parts when it

was placed in a glass jar and let go. That disturbing scene got the

reaction it was supposed to get from the students, who recoiled in

sheer disgust.

Wadkins told the children that the brain is much like a piece of

Jell-O in a glass jar. If unprotected, it could shatter.

“I find kids are more aware about these things now,” Wadkins said

after the session. “Parents and teachers tell them. But it’s always

good to remind them.”

The Bicycle Safety Program was sponsored by a grant from the

California Office of Traffic Safety through the Business

Transportation and Housing Agency. The department also gave away 300

helmets to children on a need basis and 14 bicycles to winners of an

essay contest. About 1,500 children from five Costa Mesa elementary

schools participated, Wadkins said.

He said the program targeted this age group because it is around

this age that children start taking their bicycles outside their

neighborhoods. Wadkins also talked to the children about checking

their tires and brakes, as well as rules of the road.

“The most common cause of accidents is bicycles going the wrong

way,” he said.

Sixth-grader Richard Hammon said he always wears a helmet when he

rides his bicycle.

“But I didn’t know you had to wear a helmet when you roller-blade

or skateboard,” he said.

Fifth-grade teacher Jennifer Hillestad said she is thankful to the

police department for putting the program together.

“It’s very necessary they do these assemblies,” she said. “Too

many times, I see kids riding their bikes without wearing helmets.”

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.