The Equestrian Medical Safety Association (EMSA) states that head injuries account for approximately 60% of deaths resulting from equestrian accidents. Approximately 12,000 equestrians visited emergency departments for head injuries in the US in 2007 (Source: NEISS data 2007). Now, equine digestive health product SUCCEED®, and helmet advocate Jeri Bryant have teamed up to launch an online helmet awareness campaign – www.riders4helmets.com. The campaign is designed to educate equestrians on the benefits of wearing helmets.
By creating awareness of how wearing a properly fitted ASTM/SEI-certified helmet can not only reduce the severity of head injuries sustained while riding but also help prevent death, the website aims to reduce the incidence of head injury.
“After donating helmet awareness t-shirts to the SUCCEED eBay store, I realized we could take things a step further. I am proud of the support already being pledged to the campaign,” said Bryant.
The riders4helmets campaign has already received the official endorsement of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), United States Eventing Association (USEA), American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA), Equestrian Aid Foundation (EAF) as well as leading equestrians.
The www.riders4helmets.com campaign website homepage is a blog that will be updated frequently with news regarding the campaign. Articles already posted on the website include features on helmet certification, a dressage riders perspective, and, questions for an equine law practitioner. The website also features statistics and other equestrian helmet related information, a forum where site visitors can share their helmet-related stories and questions, and a photo gallery of campaign supporters.
