Be a winner and wear a helmet!
That's the message the Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association (SBIA) and its honorary spokesperson, Saskatchewan Roughriders President and CEO Jim Hopson, wish to advance for Brain Injury Awareness Month 2012.
Brain Injury Awareness Month is recognized nationally every June. Brain injuries are preventable yet sadly, 2200 people in Saskatchewan acquire a brain injury each year.
We believe this is 2200 too many.
So this year, the focus is on prevention with the Save Your Melon! campaign to promote the use of helmets, a campaign launched by Jim Hopson as his first act in the role of Honorary spokesperson for SBIA. "We need to get the message out to kids and adults that we should be wearing our helmets when we're riding our bikes or when we're skateboarding; any activity that involves a risk to the head," Hopson said. "You only have one brain. Why not protect it?"
It's simple: wear a helmet to reduce your risk of brain injury when you are outside doing any activity that could involve a fall or moving faster than you can run - whether cycling, skiing, boarding or rollerblading. It requires little effort and the benefits far outweigh the hassles.
Because brain injury is the NUMBER ONE killer and disabler of children and young people, the Save Your Melon! campaign makes a serious point in a light hearted way. In partnership with Workers Compensation Board (WCB) SBIA will be giving away customized watermelon helmets through draws at displays around the province this summer. Not only are these helmets less sticky than the watermelon shells donned by Rider fans, they offer protection along with the "cool" factor.
Even one brain injury is a brain injury too many.
For more information on Brain Injury: www.sbia.ca or email [email protected]
306-373-1555 or 1-888-373-1555 (toll free in Saskatchewan)
The Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association strives to prevent brain injuries and to improve the lives of survivors and their families.
