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May 12, 2005
SGI DONATES BICYCLE HELMETS
SGI furthered its commitment to educating people on the importance of helmet
use when cycling by donating 30 bicycle helmets to St. Michael’s School.
The donation of helmets will help ensure the students’ safety when
using the bicycles St. Michael’s recently acquired from the Regina
Police Service.
“I am happy to make this donation on behalf of SGI,” SGI Minister
Maynard Sonntag said. “Traffic safety promotion has always been a
top priority at SGI, whether the traffic is a motor vehicle, a pedestrian
or a bicycle.”
The special donation is part of SGI’s continuing efforts to educate
the public on the importance of wearing safety approved bicycle helmets
when operating a bicycle on a highway or any other property where cycling
is permitted.
Research indicates that the use of a safety approved bicycle helmet can
reduce the risk of a brain injury for cyclists by 88 per cent.
In Saskatchewan, in the five-year period from 1998 to 2003, there were
10 deaths and 1,202 injuries involving cyclists. In addition, according
to SmartRisk, the Canadian non-profit charitable organization dedicated
to preventing injuries and saving lives, cycling-related injuries are estimated
to cost the health care system $3.6 million annually.
“It’s about saving lives,” said Minister Sonntag. “SGI
has been working closely with a number of organizations in the province
to prevent serious injury and death by promoting safe cycling practices.”
Saskatchewan is currently one of only four provinces that does not have
provincial legislation that mandates bicycle helmet use.
Media only contact:
Barbara Cross
SGI Communications
Regina
(306) 751-1360
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