Helmet Promotion Campaign in Kuujjuaraapik
To continue its efforts to promote the use of helmets, the KRPF will draw a TV among drivers or riders wearing helmets in Kuujjuaraapik, the southernmost community of Nunavik.
In the following days, police officers of the KRPF and of the Cree Eeyou Eenou Regional Police Force will be giving raffle tickets for a 43’’ television. When not on call or in an emergency situation, they will watch for users of bicycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV), snowmobiles and motorcycles wearing helmets on the Kuujjuaraapik/Whapmagoostui roads to deliver the tickets for the raffle.
Artwork realized by school students of Kuujjuaraapik and Whapmagoostui to promote the use of helmets
In Kuujjuaraapik, the promotion for using helmets is not new. In January, students from the Asimauttaq School helped create a short film on the subject.
View the Youtube video
Irene Chu, who studied at the University of Toronto, did a research on the use of helmets in Nunavik. She wanted to know why a lot of Nunavimmiut were not wearing one and initiated safety campaigns to promote its usage. She found out that accessibility to helmets was a problem: it could be difficult to find them in stores and it was expensive. She managed to distribute more than 500 helmets.
On its side, KRG's On the Right Path Nunavik program held road safety campaigns and distributed helmets, but its funding was since cut by the Quebec Government.
The average of brain injury hospitalization is six times higher than the rest of the Quebec province, according to a 2015 research conducted by the McGill University. 40% of those are related to ATV or snowmobile accidents. Wearing a helmet could prevent more than 70% of head injuries.
In the coming years, the KRPF wants to continue raising awareness to Nunavimmiut for the use of helmets with campaigns and activities in different communities. Nevertheless, road safety remains everyone's responsibility.
See also:
Road safety awareness in Nunavik
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