Brain Research Foundation Puts Sledgehammer To Cyclists’ Heads During Crystal Lake Bike Race

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. - July 12, 2013 - PRLog -- CRYSTAL LAKE, IL – (July 12, 2013) For the last year statistics are available, more than half a million U.S. cyclists ended their bike ride at the emergency room of a local hospital. One out of ten went for head injuries. As part of an initiative to improve these numbers, Chicago-based Brain Research Foundation (BRF) will demonstrate helmet safety during the Prairie State Cycling Series stage to be held in Crystal Lake this Sunday, July 14th.

“Some experts estimate that half of all cyclists still ride without a helmet,” stated Sandra DiPasquale, BRF’s Development Director. “We are using cycling races to educate Chicago communities about the serious risks of biking without a helmet.”

Crystal Lake race attendees will be able to observe a live demonstration of the Melon Smasher, an apparatus designed to strike a dangerous blow to a human head, replicating impact from the bike crash. The Melon Smasher substitutes a human head-sized melon for the real thing, and demonstrations are conducted both with and without helmets.

“The Melon Smasher delivers an eight pound sledgehammer blow to the head under modest velocity,” DiPasquale added. “Head impact from a cycling accident in which the biker loses control can be far worse than what we demonstrate.”

Melon Smasher demonstrations will take place at BRF’s exhibit booth throughout the day of the race. The foundation will also distribute material on proper helmet fitting practices. While helmets can greatly reduce the risk of major head injuries, improper fitting can reintroduce risk and make the helmets’ benefits negligible.

The helmet safety program is made possible in part by funding from Fifth-Third Bank.

About the Brain Research Foundation

The Brain Research Foundation funds innovative neuroscience research that expands understanding of how the brain works, and provides educational programs for researchers, families struggling with debilitating brain disorders and the general public. The Foundation plays a critical role in the scientific process by funding seed grants that are the starting blocks to discovery, allowing scientists to prove the feasibility of their projects and produce data that will make them eligible for larger government and institutional funds. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.thebrf.org. You can friend us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/brainresearchfoundation (http://www.prlog.org/pub/) and follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/thebrf.

For more information about the Intelligentsia Cup and upcoming cycling series events, please visit http://www.prairiestatecyclingseries.com/schedule.php .