Putting “Lids on the Kids” at Herndon Elementary School

Herndon Virginia Mayor Lisa Merkel, Fairfax County and Bicycle Police helped distribute free bike helmets to sixth graders at Herndon Elementary School
Herndon Virginia Mayor Lisa Merkel, Fairfax County and Bicycle Police helped distribute free bike helmets to every sixth grader at Herndon Elementary School today

At Herndon Elementary School every sixth grader got a free bicycle helmet this morning.  Over one hundred students were custom-fitted by members of both the Town of Herndon Police AND the Fairfax County Police.  The children learned about bicycle safety, Virginia bike laws and brain injury prevention from law enforcement and legal professionals.  Doug Landau of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU showed examples of safe and unsafe helmets, how the brain and skull interact and pictures from actual cases.  The Herndon Elementary School students asked excellent questions and knew the answers to lots of lawyer Landau’s questions.  They were also given bags to carry their helmets home and safety information to share with their families.  The inquisitive children knew that when a 30 pound bike comes into contact with a 4,000 SUV, the bike is always going to get the worst of it.

Doug Landau of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU fits a student with a free Bell bike helmet
Bike safety lawyer Doug Landau of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU fits a student with a free Bell bicycle helmet in order to prevent needless brain injury

A former school teacher herself, Mayor Merkel also spoke to the faculty, administrators and pupils about the fact that a “Rails to Trail” goes right through the middle of the Town.  The W&OD Trail is a great way to get around Herndon on a bike, long board, roller blades, skate board and scooter.  But Mayor Merkel cautioned, if you travel through the Town’s Trail, paths and roads on wheels, you should ALWAYS wear a helmet. The inquisitive sixth graders left the program with their free safety gear and a better understanding of not only that they must wear their helmets, but why they should always wear head protection.

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