SGI DONATES BICYCLE HELMETS

SGI furthered its commitment to educating people on the importance of helmet use when cycling by donating 30 bicycle helmets to St. Michael's School.

The donation of helmets will help ensure the students' safety when using the bicycles St. Michael's recently acquired from the Regina Police Service.

"I am happy to make this donation on behalf of SGI," Minister responsible for SGI Maynard Sonntag said. "Traffic safety promotion has always been a top priority at SGI, whether the traffic is a motor vehicle, a pedestrian or a bicycle."

The special donation is part of SGI's continuing efforts to educate the public on the importance of wearing safety approved bicycle helmets when operating a bicycle on a highway or any other property where cycling is permitted.

Research indicates that the use of a safety approved bicycle helmet can reduce the risk of a brain injury for cyclists by 88 per cent.

In Saskatchewan, in the five-year period from 1998 to 2003, there were 10 deaths and 1,202 injuries involving cyclists. Cycling-related injuries are estimated to cost the health care system $3.6 million annually, according to SmartRisk, the Canadian non-profit charitable organization dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives.

"It's about saving lives," Sonntag said. "SGI has been working closely with a number of organizations in the province to prevent serious injury and death by promoting safe cycling practices."

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For More Information, Contact:

Barbara Cross Communications Regina Phone: (306) 751-1360