The annual Healthy Kids Day event takes place at hundreds of YMCA locations across the nation on Saturday, April 29, an initiative to improve the health and well-being of local kids. Here in the Puget Sound area, Kaiser Permanente will partner with Team Thrive, a professional women’s cycling team, and more than 250 volunteers to fit kids with free bicycle helmets. The goal is to give away 10,000 helmets at Healthy Kids Day and similar events this spring.

Nearest locations:

University Family YMCA

5003 12th Avenue NE

Seattle, WA 98105

10:00am – 1:00pm

Meredith Mathews/East Madison YMCA

1700 23rd Ave

Seattle, WA 98122

10:00am – 1:00pm

Dale Turner YMCA

19290 Aurora Ave. N.

Shoreline, WA 98133

10:00am – 1:00pm

From Kaiser Permanente:

PROPER FIT: It’s important that children protect their heads by wearing a helmet, AND that it fit properly. Here are some tips on how to fit a bike helmet for children.

· Certified? Choose a bicycle helmet that meets the safety standards of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission . Look for a sticker on the helmet.

· Size & Fit: The helmet should fit snuggly, not moving up or down, front to back or side to side. Pads can be used inside the helmet to fine-tune the fit, but should not be used in lieu of acquiring a more appropriate-sized helmet.

· Position:

· Eyes: The helmet should sit level on the head, resting one to two finger widths above the eyebrows.

· Ears: The straps of the helmet should form a “Y” around each ear, with the slider resting below the earlobe. The straps should be flat against the head, not twisted.

· Chin: The buckle should be centered below the chin, loose enough to allow breathing and speaking, but not so loose that the helmet moves. A helpful test is if you can fit a finger between the buckle and chin.

· When to replace: Helmets should be replaced every three to five years, regardless if they have been in an accident. If there has been a crash or other impact, replace the helmet.

Kaiser Permanente Medical Director and avid cyclist Matthew Handley, MD, shows how to properly fit a helmet.