Adopt A Helmet

Retailers across the region have agreed to participate in this weekend event and we encourage you to support it. Thirty seven retail locations are offering discounts on Saturday June 1 and 2, 2013.

All you need to do is…

• Visit your store of choice,
• Tell them that you are here for your helmet discount,
• And buy your brand new helmet.

 This event is for everyone (children, youth, adults, and seniors) and helmets of all kinds will be available. Whether you bike, rollerblade, skateboard, ski, or play hockey, there will be something just right for you.

The following list outlines the retailer, location, and discount that will be offered. 

Retailer

Antique Skate Shop

9 Florence St  

Ottawa, ON K2P 0W6
Tel: (613) 695-3168

Bushtukah

(2 locations)

203 Richmond Rd
Ottawa, ON K1Z 6W4
Tel: 613-792-1170

5607 Hazeldean Rd
Stittsville, ON K2S 0P5
Tel: 613-831-3604

Dinardo’s Skis & Wheels

44 Northside Rd  
Ottawa,ON K2H 5Z5
Tel:(613) 596-0007

Foster’s Sports

305 Bank St
Ottawa ON, K2P 1X7
Tel: (613) 236-9611

Full Cycle Centre

401 St. Laurent Blvd,
Ottawa, ON K1K 2Z8
Tel: (613) 741-2443

Fresh Air Experience

1291 Wellington W  
Ottawa, ON K1Y 3A8
Tel: (613) 729-3002

Joe Mamma

767 Bank St
Ottawa,  ON K1S 3V3
Tel: 613-564-0459

Kunstadt

 (3 locations)
462 Hazeldean Rd
Kanata, ON K2L 1V3
Tel: (613) 831-2059

 680 Bank St
Ottawa, ON K1S 3T9
Tel: (613) 233-4820

 1583 Bank St
Ottawa, ON K1H 7Z3
Tel: (613) 260-0696

Lacroix Source for Sports

2062 St Joseph Blvd
Orleans, ON K1C 1E6
Tel: (613) 824-5196

Mcranks

889 Bank St
Ottawa, ON K1S 3W4
Tel: (613) 563-2200

Mountain Equipment Coop

366 Richmond Rd
Ottawa, ON K2A 0E8
Tel: (613) 729-2700

Orleans Cycle

2404 St. Joseph Blvd,
Orleans, ON K1C 1G1
Tel: (613) 837-1567

Phat Moose Cycles
98 Hawthorne Ave  
Ottawa, ON K1S 0B1
Tel: (613) 231-2427

Play it Again Sports

(4 locations)
488 Terry Fox Dr
Kanata ON K2T 1L3
Tel : (613) 599-9937

 1701, Bank St
Ottawa ON K1V 7Z4
Tel: (613) 731-6006

 3885, Innes Rd
Orleans ON K1C 1T1
Tel: 613-837-7529

3161 Greenbank Rd
Ottawa ON K2J 4H9
Tel: 613-843-9711

Rebec and Kroes
2679 Alta Vista Dr
Ottawa, ON K1V 7T5
Tel: 613-521-379

Sportschek

1200 St Laurent blvd
Ottawa, ON K1K 3B8
Tel: (613) 741-3378

1642 Merivale Rd
Nepean, ON K2G 4A1
Tel: (613) 225-6674

125 Riocan Ave
Barrhaven, ON K2J 5G4
Tel: (613) 825-7873

785 Kanata Ave
Kanata, ON K2T 1H9
Tel : (613) 271-1513

110  Place D’Orléans Dr
Orléans, ON K1C 2L9
Tel : (613) 824-9933

Sportek

1020 Pleasant Park Rd
Ottawa ON K1G 2A1
Tel: (613) 737-5697

Sports Experts

 (4 locations)

100 Bayshore Dr
Ottawa ON  K2B 8C1
Tel: (613) 680-3230

 50 Rideau St
Ottawa ON  K1N 5W9
Tel: (613) 237-5760

 1200 St-Laurent Blvd
Ottawa ON  K1K 3B8
Tel: (613) 741-3727

 4338 Innes Rd
Orléans ON  K4A 3W3
Tel: (613) 590-0755

Tall Tree Cycles

255 Richmond Rd  
Ottawa ON K1Z 6X1
Tel: (613) 725-2453

The Cyclery

1115 Bank St
Ottawa, ON K1S 3W9
Tel: (613) 695-9253

Tommy and Lefebvre

(2 locations)
464 Bank St
Ottawa ON K2P 1Z3
Tel: (613) 236-9731

 3777 Strandherd Dr
Ottawa ON K2J 4B1
Tel: (613) 843-8997

Top of the World

158 Rideau  St
Ottawa ON K1N 5X6
Tel: (613) 237-4797

Valiquette

1740 Carling Ave
Ottawa, ON K2A 1E1
Tel: (613) 725-5352

Check out the “Adopt a Helmet” Video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yDbPvTKFVA

Brought to you by Ottawa Public Health.

1) What types of style of helmets are out there?
There is a variety of affordable helmets suitable for activities such as cycling, hockey, and skateboarding that are available at many retailers across Ottawa. Some of them focus on cool urban graphic design, while others are more geared toward custom fitting.

2) How do I know what activities I can use my helmet for?
There are different helmets for different types of activities. Single impact helmets are only able to take one major impact before they need to be replaced. They include bicycle helmets, ski helmets, most skateboarding helmets and in-line skate helmets. Multi impact helmets can take more than one impact, and are best suited for rougher sports. These include hockey helmets, BMX helmets, and certain in-line skate helmets.

3) How do I know when it is time to “adopt” a new helmet?
The lifespan of a helmet can last for 5 years with proper care. Helmets are equipped with a manufacturing date. Read over the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to ensure a proper fit and ensure you care for it properly. Helmets may have to be “put down” early should they have a bad fall or endure extreme wear.

4) What type of training is involved in raising a helmet?
Although no obedience class is necessary to tame your helmet, it is important for you to have the right skills and knowledge to protect yourself and your newly adopted helmet. It is recommended that new cyclists take a skills training course, such as the Can-Bike program (call 3-11 for more information). This will help to keep you, your helmet, as well as the people around you much safer. Helmets require at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per week. Although this may seem like a lot at first glance, it really adds up to only half an hour five days a week.

5) How do I know my helmet has the right fit?
Some people just fall in love with a helmet at first sight. For others, it may take some adjustment to get used to. The rule of thumb for fitting is:
• Put the helmet on your head so it is not tilting backward or forward
• Ensure there are two fingers distance from the helmet to your eyebrows
• Allow the helmet to form V-shape straps around each ear
• Check to see that there is one finger distance between the chin and the fastened strap.

6) How do I know if my helmet is certified?
Helmets should be equipped with a certification sticker. Look for any of the following certifications (Canadian, US, European):
• ASTM
• CEN
• CSA
• CPSC
• ASTM F-1492 
• Snell

7) Can I adopt a used helmet?
It is not recommended that you adopt a used helmet. It is important to know the history of your helmet, especially for single impact helmets.

8) Can I put stickers on my helmet for decoration?
It is not recommended to put stickers on your helmet’s coat for several reasons:
• Stickers can cover cracks/damage to the helmet
• Stickers may prevent helmets from sliding on impact
• Sticker glues may degrade the plastic shell of the helmet
• Altering a helmet by placing a sticker on it may affect a helmet’s certification or manufacturer’s warranty

Check out the “Adopt a Helmet” Video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yDbPvTKFVA

Brought to you by Ottawa Public Health.

“I wear my helmet every time I bike now. I feel a lot safer, especially biking around the busy streets in downtown Ottawa. I have invested a lot of time, effort and money into my university education and I now feel like I should do everything to protect my head and my brain - wearing a helmet is essential for this! There are many dangers involved with biking and although I can’t avoid all of them, I can protect myself from many by wearing a helmet. The helmet I have even has a sun shade to protect me from the sun “

If you have a helmet adoption story, please send it to adoptahelmet@ottawa.ca

“I have “cared” for my helmets since I can remember. At age 5 for my hockey helmet, at age six for my skateboard helmet, and at age 7 for my snowboard helmet. I have always used a helmet to protect the noggin. My parents rule is NO HELMET – NO SPORTS, NO EXCEPTIONS! I have broken my wrist, and my leg doing sports, and they heal  My head - not so much. So it was a good thing I was wearing my helmet snowboarding when I fell on the terrain park on a rail. I ended up with a mild concussion. Even with a mild concussion I couldn’t remember things, and was confused, and had a major headache. Can you imagine if I didn’t have a helmet on. The first question out of the Doctors mouth was, were you wearing a helmet. Thankfully yes.  I care for my helmet so it cares for my head.

Lately there have been 2 accidents in the news of people biking and not wearing a helmet, and a skateboarder not wearing a helmet. We should learn from these accidents how important have a helmet in good condition specific for your sport and wearing it is.”

The preceeding was an entry into the ”Adopt a Helmet Contest,” which ran from June 29th to July 20th 2012. Winners will be contacted after July 25th, 2012.