This spring and summer when firefighters or police officers spot cyclists or skaters wearing a bike or multi-sport helmet, they will pull them over and reward them with a certificate that they can redeem for a free treat at Cub Foods, Cold Stone Creamery, Culvers, McDonalds, Holiday Station Store, Dairy Queen or Burger King. 
 
Bicycle crashes are the leading cause of summer visits to the emergency room. More than 400,000 kids age 14 and under are injured each year and approximately 300 kids die from their injuries. Eighty-five percent of bicycling head injuries could have been prevented with the use of a bike helmet. Bike crashes or collisions can happen at any time. Even professional bike racers get in serious wrecks. In three out of four bike crashes, bikers usually get some sort of injury to their head. 
 
Each summer the Fire and Police departments partner with North Memorial Hospital to sell discounted helmets on Thursday evenings. Helmets will be sold every Thursday, 6 - 8 p.m. at Fire Station III, 3300 Dunkirk Ln. N, through Aug. 25. Helmets range in size from toddler to adult extra large and come in many styles and colors. Traditional bike helmets are $10 and $12 and multi-sport helmets are $15. 
 
Since 2006 Police and Fire have sold more than 4,900 helmets. A bonus on Thursday nights is that is that kids also get to see the fire trucks, equipment and firefighters at the station.