I wanted to bring you a video I took of North Haven firefighter Alan Riggs on Friday but due to technical difficulties, posting did not occur. You can look up the video on http://www.nhregister.com/ video list.
What Riggs was doing was speaking to first-graders at Green Acres School in North Haven, to promote the annual North Haven Professional Firefighters annual bicycle safety program.
"We want to make it cool to wear a helmet," Riggs said.
That's the psychology behind why firefighters in town for the last 16 years have been giving away free bike helmets to first-graders.
Seventeen years ago, three kids were hurt when they didn't wear their helmets. "We decided we wanted to do something" in the way of prevention, he said.
So, they got advice from pediatricians and educators about which age group was best to help out.  First grade was chosen. Since then, Riggs and other firefighters visit those classrooms at each elementary school. Kids are given coupons to bring to the fire headquarters at 11 Broadway from 9 a.m. to noon on either Sept. 24 or Oct. 1. Firefighters give a free helmet to each child who presents a coupon. Additionally, all children are entered into a drawing for a free bicycle. The children and the adults who accompany them also sign a bicycle safety pledge.
Students from Quinnipiac University's Occupational Therapy Department help to fit the helmets on children's heads. "It's to protect them from having injuries and requiring rehabilitation," said Tracy Vanoss, assistant clinical professor in the School of Health Sciences.
So, if you are a first-grade parent, don't forget to bring the kiddoes to the fire station.
And, even if your child has a helmet already, it doesn't help to have a spare.