Mark and Melissa Halabis have a new rule at their home that helps protect their children from life-threatening injury: No bike riding without a helmet.

            That rule went into effect after the Cass City family visited the Huron Medical Center station for free bike helmets and fittings during Kids Day at the Port Austin Farmers Market on June 19.

            "When we left the campground in Caseville Saturday morning, we knew it was Kids Day at the market, but we had no idea the hospital was sponsoring the helmet program." Melissa Halabis said. "But it was excellent and we're so thankful for it. Now our kids don't get on their bikes without a helmet - it's a rule at our home."

            The Halabis children, Abbey, 7, and Brady, 3, were among 250 youngsters who were fitted for and received free bicycle helmets compliments of Huron Medical Center and the Field Neurosciences Institute, co-sponsors of the safety program.

            Summer activities such as bike and scooter riding, roller blading, and skate-boarding mean more young people will be out free-wheeling during nice weather. That almost always means increased potential for accidents: falls, crashes, and collisions.

            Head injuries from such accidents are a major cause of Emergency Center visits for children under the age of 15, said Marge Wessels, community relations director at HMC.

            National statistics bear that out. The numbers are alarming.

            The latest figures compiled by the National Injury Foundation (NIF) show that 90 percent of bicycle fatalities occur to riders not wearing helmets, more than 300,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms for bike-related injuries each year, and that more than 80 percent of critical head and brain injuries can be prevented by wearing a bicycle helmet.

            Additionally, NIF statistics show that one child out of seven will receive head injuries as a result of a bicycle crash and the risk of injury for children age 14 and under is five times greater than for older bicyclists.

            Kelli Jankens, state coordinator for Think First, the comprehensive injury prevention program put together by the NIF, said the Port Austin event was successful because of the energy and effort put into it by the dozen volunteers from Huron Medical Center who worked with children and their families.

            "We sing their praises," Jankens said, referring to the hospital's Think First chapter. "Their members make up one of the premiere chapters in the region in terms of the way they consistently implement safety programs in the community that make a difference.

           "That's what we focus on trying to prevent - the kind of injuries that will end your life or change it forever."

           Concern about injuries to their children is what prompted Tammy Messing of Bad  Axe to take part in the HMC helmet program at the farmer's market.

            "You always worry about your kids falling or crashing when they're on their bikes," Messing said. "That's part of riding. Accidents happen, so you want your kids protected as much as possible. I think this is an excellent program by the hospital, and the cold drinks and snacks that were provided are a nice extra touch."

           Messing said her children, Adam, 9, and Noah, 7, are proud of their new helmets and wear them regularly.

          The same goes for members of the Halabis clan.  The children like their new helmets and don't mind the household rule.