The Texas Medical Association’s Hard Hats for Little Heads bicycle helmet giveaway program was created to help reduce head injury among Texas children. A properly fitting helmet can prevent almost all head injuries — up to 85 percent — the most common cause of disability or death in a bicycle crash. Since 1994, TMA has given away more than 350,000 helmets to Texas children.
TMA physicians want kids to have fun on wheels: bicycling, skateboarding, inline skating, and riding a scooter. And with the growing concern over childhood obesity, TMA physicians want kids to get more active. Even 30 minutes to one hour of exercise every day can make a difference. Hard Hats for Little Heads promotes fun exercise, and teaches parents and children the importance of wearing a properly fitted helmet.
Watch these videos to learn more about TMA’s Hard Hats program:
- Kids, Watch What Can Happen If You Don’t Wear a Helmet! (TMA YouTube video, September 2019)
- TMA’s Bike Helmet Fitting Guide — Think 2, V, 1! (YouTube video, October 2017)
- TMA’s Bike Helmet Fitting Guide — Think 2, V, 1! in Spanish (YouTube video, October 2017)
- Physicians Say: Kids, Wear Bike Helmets for Safety (YouTube video, November 2008)
- Physicians: Fit Bike Helmets Right for Top Safety (YouTube video, November 2008)
Members of the TMA family — physicians, county medical societies, medical students, and/or local alliance chapters — can sponsor helmet giveaway events in their communities. Medical family sponsors are invited to partner with other community organizations on events.
Physicians: Get Involved
Hard Hats provides a hands-on way to encourage your patients and community to exercise safely. You can sponsor a giveaway, give a safety message at a local event or school (remember to wear your white coat), or fit helmets at an event.
TCEP Members
The Texas College of Emergency
Physicians (TCEP) offers its members a unique benefit. TCEP will cover the cost
of up to 25 helmets for its members who host a helmet giveaway. TMA provides an
equal match of free helmets on these purchases, so TCEP members can get up to
50 helmets to give away at no cost. TCEP will cover a limited number of events
while funding lasts. TCEP members are welcome to purchase additional
helmets for their events at a reduced price offered to TMA by our helmet
supplier.
TPS Members
The Texas Pediatric Society, the Texas
Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (TPS) covers the cost
of up to 25 helmets for its members who host a helmet giveaway. TMA provides an
equal match of free helmets on these purchases, so TPS members can get up to 50
helmets to give away at no cost. TPS will cover a limited number of events
while funding lasts. TPS members are welcome to purchase additional
helmets for their events at a reduced price offered to TMA by our helmet
supplier.
Family Physicians
The Texas Academy of Family Physicians (TAFP) offers a unique benefit for family physicians (FPs). TAFP has made a donation to TMA Foundation for the Hard Hats program that will underwrite helmets for a limited number of giveaway events while funding lasts. Thanks to the TAFP gift, FPs who host a helmet giveaway can receive up to 50 helmets to give away at no cost. Family physicians receive up to 25 helmets paid for by TAFP, and TMA provides an equal match of free helmets on the purchase. Family physicians are welcome to purchase additional helmets for their events at a reduced price offered to TMA by our helmet supplier.
Find Out More
Email Jose Melendez or call (512) 370-1390 to request an event starter packet or ask questions.
Hard Hats for Little
Heads is funded in
2022 with a grant from the TMA Foundation with major support from an anonymous
TMA/TMAA member donor couple and gifts from physicians and their families.
Special thanks to Chris DeGioanni and Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
To make a tax-deductible donation to TMA's Hard Hats for Little Heads program, visit the TMA Foundation. For more about the programs the foundation funds, contact Lisa Stark Walsh, TMA Foundation, at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1666, or (512) 370-1666.
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