Press releases

Released July 23, 2001
Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital news release

"Safety Scoops" Program Is Just Desserts for Kids Who Are Heads Up

For more information, call 203-688-2493 or E-mail Mark D'Antonio

A new program, believed to be the first of its kind in the United States, is now rewarding kids for wearing their bicycle safety helmets while bike riding.

"Safety Scoops" is the brainchild of Wendy Mackey, a pediatric surgery clinical nurse specialist at Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital. The program, in conjunction with her local police department in Guilford, Conn., and a local Carvel ice cream franchise, rewards kids with "Safety Scoop" ice cream sundae coupons as "just desserts" for practicing bicycle safety by wearing their helmets.

"We were brainstorming about ways we could reward kids for wearing their helmets, and the idea came to give them a coupon for ice cream," said Mackey. "I presented the idea to a friend of mine who owns a Carvel ice cream store and he loved it. From there, we presented the concept to the Guilford police department and they thought it was a terrific idea. The program began last weekend with great results."

Mackey, along with Guilford police officer Mark O'Connor, noted that severe injuries can occur when kids don't wear their helmets, ranging from cuts and bruises, to life-threatening brain injuries.

"We are really stressing the reward aspect of the program," said Officer O'Connor, who regularly rides bike patrol in Guilford. "The unfortunate impression some kids have is that wearing a helmet is not cool. For kids under the age of 16, wearing a helmet is the law, but by being proactive and wearing the proper protection, a helmet might just save your life. We saw this program as a way to enforce the idea of positive re-enforcement. The parents see it as a way for the police to collaborate on the idea of practicing safety. We're seen as the good guys by both the kids and their parents."

Mackey said she was pleased with the results from the first weekend and hopes that the program will pick up momentum and spread to other communities throughout the state and region.

"We're hopeful that this idea catches on and other communities will follow this example. We were seeing so many serious injuries in the Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital emergency department that we decided something had to be done to put safety and prevention back at the forefront as everyone's top priority."

To speak with Wendy Mackey about the Safety Scoops program, please call (203) 688-4114, or call Mark D'Antonio at (203) 688-2493.

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