A new public health initiative from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s Public Health Injury Prevention Program debuted at the Way of Life Facility (WOLF) on November 21.

The initiative provides brand-new helmets for skaters at the facility’s skate park, as well as for recreational scooter and bike riders.

A new open-access helmet organizer now hangs on the wall at the back entrance to the WOLF, toward the skate park.

“Our public health program wants to provide access to safety, and that’s what these helmets are here for, to provide a means to make sure we keep those brains safe,” said Injury Prevention Coordinator Monte Yazzie, who brought the helmets to the facility.

“If you’re on your way out to the skate park, you can stop here and grab a helmet.”

Information is located by the helmets to explain how to properly fit a helmet and to make sure that you’re safe while you’re out there having fun.

Yazzie said that a properly fitted helmet should fit securely on your head. “There are three rules that we can follow to make sure that we keep [the helmet] nice and secure on our heads,” said Yazzie.

“Two fingers above the eyebrows, two fingers around the ear and two fingers underneath the chin strap and you’re in good shape.”