For the second consecutive year, Levinson and Stefani proudly sponsored Bike Lids 4 Safe Kids, a summer-long advocacy program hosted by PediaTrust and the Pediatric Associates of Barrington, designed to encourage safe bike riding among local kids. Once again, the firm donated helmets for last night’s raffle.
The premise for Bike Lids 4 Safe Kids is effective and fun. Every summer, the city of Cary and Fox River Grove enlists local police officers to patrol the streets looking for children riding bikes. If the kids are wearing helmets, the officers give them tokens for free items and treats at local businesses. The campaign culminates just prior to the upcoming school year as part of National Night Out, the community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and camaraderie in neighborhoods across the country. Millions of people take part in National Night Out by hosting block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, and exhibits.
The firm has close ties to Bike Lids 4 Safe Kids. Jay’s wife, Maggie Stefani, a physician and member of the Pediatric Associates of Barrington, founded the program. Jay and Maggie were both on hand last night to dole out helmets and take part in activities. It’s a special event for Jay, an active bike rider and safety advocate. As part of his practice, Jay represents bike crash victims who have suffered severe injury in and around the Chicago area.
Helmets are just one of the many ways to prevent serious head injuries, yet many cyclists choose to ride without them. A 2016 study published by Australian statisticians Jake Olivier and Prudence Creighton from the University of New South Wales found that the use of helmets by cyclist from around the world reduced significant head injuries by nearly 70 percent. The state of Illinois does not currently enforce a helmet law.
