Switlik Elementary School students got some protection for their noggins last week, courtesy of the Florida Department of Health, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the University of Miami’s BikeSafe program. Inviting kids to the school’s library, UM staffers gave students the lowdown on bike safety laws and best practices on March 12. Certified helmet fitters provided donated helmets to students who don’t have them at home, making custom adjustments to fit each little head.
More than 300 students received helmets in Thursday’s event, with a second fitting on March 23 scheduled for Marathon Middle/High School. Department of Health public information officer Jennifer Lefelar told the Weekly her team is working with Marathon’s voluntary prekindergarten program to fit students with helmets and hopes to expand the program to additional schools.
Other partners in the event included the Key Colony Beach Police Department, the Florida Keys Outreach Coalition for the Homeless and the SOS foundation.
