SR0244 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0244 LRB097 12054 GRL 55828 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate recognize bicycling as a positive, important activity for children under the age of 16, for the purposes of transportation, exercise, recreation, and general physical and mental well-being; and

WHEREAS, Five of every six middle school students and more than two of every three high school students report riding bicycles within the past year; and

WHEREAS, Significant numbers of children are injured while riding bicycles, in many instances with injuries that could have been prevented or reduced in seriousness if the young bicycle riders were wearing bicycle helmets; and

WHEREAS, Nationally, only 20% to 25% of all bicyclists wear bicycle helmets, despite the fact that nearly 70% of all fatal bicycle crashes involve head injuries; and

WHEREAS, Bicycle helmets reduce the risk of head injuries by up to 88% and reduce the risk of facial injuries by 65%; thousands of head and facial injuries suffered by Illinois children would be prevented every year if every child wore a bicycle helmet; and

WHEREAS, 500,000 bicycle-related injuries are treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms every year, with over half the injured being children and nearly half those injuries involving the head or neck region; and

WHEREAS, The annual cost of bicycle-related injuries and deaths in the United States is $8 billion; every dollar spent on a bicycle helmet saves our society $30 in indirect medical costs; and

WHEREAS, Numerous Illinois retailers, community groups, and hospital programs currently make bicycle helmets available to children at low or no cost; and

WHEREAS, Numerous groups advocate for bicycle helmet usage by children, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (Illinois Chapter), the Brain Injury Association of Illinois, the Chicago Medical Legal Partnership for Children, the Children's Memorial Hospital, the Cook County Department of Public Health, Health and Disability Advocates, Helmets First!, the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians, the Illinois Association of School Nurses, the Illinois Chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association, the Illinois Hospital Association, the Illinois State Medical Society, the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition, the Loyola University Medical Center, the Quad Cities Bicycle Club, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, SafeKids Illinois, the Chicago Shriners Hospital for Children, the Macon County and Winnebago County Shriners Hospitals for Children, the Stakeholders Collaboration to Improve Student Health, Think First National Injury Prevention (7 Illinois Chapters), and the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Educating children as to the benefit of wearing bicycle helmets while cycling will contribute to their safety and well-being; numerous agencies and associations, including the office of the Illinois Secretary of State, the Illinois Department of Public Health, local health and law enforcement departments, schools, medical professionals, advocates for children, cycling groups, and retail sellers of bicycles, could provide a great service to Illinois children by expanding, commencing, or collaborating on activities designed to convey this message of great public value; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Governor and the Illinois Secretary of State to convene a task force or working group, composed of representatives of the aforementioned or like-minded groups, to explore, discuss, and coordinate efforts to conduct a public awareness campaign to educate the general public about the value of cycling to children, along with the safety benefits of children wearing bicycle helmets; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Illinois schools, under the direction of the State Board of Education, to participate in the development of activities and programs that would encourage child bicycle riders to wear bicycle helmets; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to Governor Pat Quinn and Secretary of State Jesse White.