LIHUE — The parking lot behind Wilcox Medical Center was abuzz with excitement Saturday as kids of all ages were fitted with new bike helmets and safety gear to prevent injuries while riding bikes and skateboards.
It was the fourth annual Wilcox Medical Center Keiki Bike and Skateboard Safety Day.
“We started this program to really keep this community out of the emergency room and so it’s really about wanting to keep our community safe, but having fun at the same time,” said Faith Campbell, marketing manager for Wilcox Medical Center.
On a weekly basis, the center sees a lot more accidents than they’d like to, said CEO Jen Chahanovich.
When riding bikes or skateboarding, everyone — kids and adults — should wear helmets, Chahanovich said.
Kauai Path was also at the event, teaching children the proper rules of the road, how to signal and how to stop.
“The kids are learning the rules of the road and, for the skateboard section, they’re also getting fitted with knee and ankle pads and wrist guards as well, so staying safe on a skateboard is not just a helmet, but protecting everything else, but of course, a helmet is the most important thing,” Campbell said.
It was the second year Galyn Fujii of Lihue attended the event with her granddaughter.
“It’s for the kids to learn how to drive safely on the road and in their neighborhood, and they’re giving away a lot of free things, which is very good. It’s good to know the rules,” she said.
Micah Yamamoto, 3, won a new bike in a drawing, and his 6-year-old brother Kai won a skateboard.
“This is the second year we’ve come, and we bring the kids so they can learn to ride the bike safely, get some new helmets for them, because every year they tend to grow out of the old ones, so it’s a great event,” said Cherie Yamamoto, the boys’ mother.
Princeville resident Richard McKeever spent his morning teaching keiki about bike safety with Kauai Path.
“The earlier they start, the better. It’s good exercise, it’s good for the long-term strength of your knees and just confidence and getting around, also,” he said.
Throughout the year, McKeever works with Kauai Path to teach bike education at schools. “We teach things like how to inflate tires, how to change gears, how to use brakes, how to use hand signals, make people aware of how to use a helmet, how to wear it properly and how to fall, actually, which is a good thing, and how to weave in and out of traffic,” he said.
They also teach kids how to ride together in groups, he said.
In addition to wearing helmets, Chahanovich said kids should always be sure to ride their bikes and skateboards on paths, and to follow all road direction signs no matter where they’re riding.
About 150 children attended the event.
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Bethany Freudenthal, courts, crime and county reporter, can be reached at 652-7891 or bfreudenthal@thegardenisland.com.
