Bangkok--27 Aug--Asia Injury Prevention Foundation
The Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation, supported by The UPS Foundation, has commenced the expansion of the Helmets for Kids program to Bangkok with an additional donation of over 3,200 helmets to students and teachers. The donation is in addition to the 2,697 helmets already distributed this year in Udon Thani, where The UPS Foundation has supported the Helmets for Kids program for the past two years.
Over six hundred parents, students, principals, teachers, and school staff were present for the large donation. The handover was also witnessed by representatives from UPS Thailand, Bangkok Primary Educational Service Area Office, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Thailand, and Sidekick Company.
Earlier this year in Udon Thani, helmet-wearing rates rose from 24 to 57 percent at Ban Makkhaeng School, and from 27 to 77 percent at Nong Samrong Wittaya School between February and June after donations from The UPS Foundation. “We are pleased to expand to Bangkok and have a greater part in the safety of our communities. With the additional helmet donations, we hope to achieve higher helmet use rates and see less road traffic injuries and fatalities among children,” said Mr.Edmund Lo, Managing Director of UPS Thailand.
The six schools were selected for donations after initial surveys revealed their need for helmets, helmet-wearing education, and road safety awareness. For example, the majority of students from Watnang School ride motorcycles with their parents to school. Moreover, a 2013 survey reported that helmet-wearing rates at Bannongbon School to be only 18.6 percent. Each school has various areas for improvement, and the opportunity to address them has commenced with today’s event.
“Traffic crashes kill more than seven children a day in Thailand and injure or disable almost two hundred daily,” said Mr.Nopadol Santipakorn from Road Accident Victims Protection Co., Ltd. “Today’s donation of over three thousand helmets will reach far beyond the individual and greatly benefit not only each student, but also the safety of each school and community.”
Schools that received the donation include:
Thairathwittaya 75 Chalermprakiet School
Bannongbon (Naiyananonanusorn) School
Watnang School
Darakam School
Pratomnonsee School
Wathongrattanaram School