Dear Editor:
The Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey (EFNJ) commends the state for providing a three-year grant to promote a unique helmet safety program. The goal of the "Heads Up For Safety" Campaign is to educate people who ride bicycles, skateboards, scooters and inline skates about the importance of helmet safety.
The grant, provided by the NJ Office for Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, will fund the development of a web site on helmet safety and the statewide distribution of public service announcements. In addition, free helmets will be distributed to needy children throughout our state.
Head injuries are the leading cause of epilepsy and are almost always preventable. As a result, the Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey is pleased to lead this effort. Properly worn helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent and the risk of brain damage by almost 90 percent. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that is characterized by sudden surges of electrical impulses in the brain that can lead to seizures.
The Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey, which is based in Trenton and has programs across New Jersey, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people affected by epilepsy and other disabilities and their families. We look forward to working with state government, local leaders and schools in every county in promoting helmet safety.
Eric Joice
Executive Director
The Epilepsy Foundation of NJ