As spring slowly takes over the Friendly City and more youth take to their bicycles for transportation purposes, nine-year-old Moose Javian Danielle Lowes recommends all young riders put some protection on their heads before heading out.
"Wear a helmet to be safe," the Grade 4 École Ducharme student told the Times-Herald recently, adding she learned the importance of bike helmets firsthand when she took a little tumble herself.
"I ran into a tree in the summer when I was out camping. (The helmet) blocked my head from getting a really bad (cut)."
Travis Holeha, Saskatchewan Injury Prevention Institute (SIPI) child injury prevention program co-ordinator, said the province has no laws requiring residents to wear bicycle helmets, but some Saskatchewan communities have implemented bicycle helmet bylaws.
Moose Jaw is not one of the province's communities.
However, Mayor Dale McBain said although the topic has not come before council as far as he can remember, most local youth he sees are wearing head protection while biking.
McBain said education programs promoting bike safety are probably part of the reason why so many young people wear helmets.
Holeha said SIPI is currently preparing for Bicycle Safety Week, May 11-17, which is an occasion when his group promotes responsible biking practices to Saskatchewan children from kindergarten to Grade 6.
Nine-year-old École Ducharme student Yanic Fortier said wearing a bicycle helmet is an important part of safe biking and he recommends anyone take this precaution while riding.
"If you fall on the road (without a helmet), you can hit your head and get brain damage."
Brain Awareness Week was held recently, and according to ThinkFirst Canada, children and youth make up 17 per cent of the Canadian population, but account for 30 per cent of traumatic brain injuries.
"Brain surgery is not the solution to brain injury," said Dr. Charles Tator, neurosurgeon and Founder of ThinkFirst Canada, in a recent media release.
"It's important to remember that it's prevention that's the only cure. It only takes a moment to buckle your seatbelt or fit your bike helmet, but this could be a lifesaving moment."
According to SIPI statistics, 60 percent of car-bicycle collisions occur among cyclists between the ages of 8 and 12.
