June is Brain Injury Awareness Month in Canada.
The Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association (SBIA) and its honorary spokesperson, Saskatchewan Roughriders President and CEO Jim Hopson, wish to advance helmet-wearing during this year's Brain Injury Awareness Month.
Brain injuries are preventable. Yet sadly, 2,200 people in Saskatchewan acquire a brain injury each year. This is 2,200 too many.
This year, the SBIA's focus is on prevention with the 'Save Your Melon!' campaign, which promotes the use of helmets. The campaign was 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.
