Bicylists Under 14 Must Wear Helmets -- It's the Law!

With the arrival of summer comes our young people taking to the streets on bicycles. A reminder to parents that New York State Law now requires that all bikers under the age of 14 are to wear helmets.

Learning to ride a bicycle is a source of pride for most kids. Unfortunately, as bicycling becomes more popular, the number of bicycle related injuries has also increased. Statistics show that over 300,000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for bicycle related injuries each year -- a third of those suffering from head related injuries. Parents can make a difference by making sure that:

* your child wears a helmet every time he/she rides.

* his/her bike is in good condition and has the right safety accessories.

* he/she has mastered bike safety rsules.

Don't let your child become a statistic. Start practicing bicycle safety today!

On Thursday July 8 the Recreation Department will present The New Village Swing Band - Big Band tunes with a swing beat.

The program will begin at 7:15 and admission is free. Please bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a very pleasant evening. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be held at the Cultural and Performing Arts Center at Cluett Hall at the St. Paul's School. Please contact the Recreation Program Line (742-5888) with questions pertaining to the concert.

I am pleased to advis you that during this school year members of Headquarters Company provided fire prevention instruction to 1,323 children and adults as part of their on-going "Learn not to Burn" program. It has been extremely gratifying to see how the members of Headquarters Company have taken this program from a "show the trucks" visit to its present form.

Children are given approximately 15-20 minutes of instruction in a given fire safety behavior, shown a short film appropriate to their age, followed by a tour of fire apparatus. They are sent home with printed materials so that they can interact with their parents about what they have seen. We are hopeful that during this discussion parents will take the opportunity to advise the children as to how the family is to react should a fire occur in their home.

These visits give the children an opportunity to meet Fire Personnel. At the same time the fire department has an opportunity to introduce these children to fire safety. They are shown how to report fires, what happens at the firehouse when the fire department responds to their home or school. They are also instructed in what they should do before the fire department arrives and in the best ways to leave a building that has a fire.

Since the inception of this program in 1981, fire department personnel have instructed 22,631 children and 3,553 adults in fire safety awareness and behaviors.