Bike Safety
Is your agency is looking to get involved with a Community Program? Our "Don't Thump Your Melon, Wear a Helmet" Bike Program is a great way to start!
SD EMSC has bike helmets available at no cost to your organization (while supplies last). Let us know if you will be hosting a full Rodeo or helmet fitting. Upon ordering, you will also receive everything you need to plan your very own Bike Rodeo:
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Instructor's Guide
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Signage
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Helmets
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Skills station instructions
The DTYM program is geared towards toddlers through teens. You can pair it with a Safety Day, Touch a Truck, or Open House.
This also goes well with our Seat Belt Safety programming!
Why Helmet Use Matters
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Helmets protect children from serious head injuries and are one of the easiest ways to prevent them from serious injury.
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Consistent helmet use builds lifelong safety habits that carry into biking, scootering, skateboarding, sledding, and other wheeled activities.
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Children are more likely to wear helmets when parents and caregivers model the behavior every time they ride.
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Wearing a properly fitted helmet teaches responsibility, encourages safe decision-making, and reinforces the importance of self-care.
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A well-fitted helmet offers parents peace of mind while significantly reducing the risk of severe injury.
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​A well-fitted helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85%.​
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Click the button below for a PDF with instructions on how to properly fit a helmet.
Bicycle Rodeo Guide Book
Since 1994, “Don't Thump Your Melon” has actively promoted bicycle helmet use and bicycle safety in South Dakota communities. The campaign happens in partnership with other statewide stakeholders.
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What is a Bike Rodeo?
Bike Rodeos are an educational community outreach activity supported by “Don’t Thump Your Melon”, a South Dakota EMS for Children program. These events offer children in your community the chance to actively learn and demonstrate bike skills and safety. Several adult volunteers run each skills station, working together to teach the kids how to control their bikes and ride safely.
Skills to Teach:
• Traffic Safety
• Turning
• Maneuvering
• Balance
• Braking
• Helmet Safety
• Rules of the road
Organizing a Bike Rodeo
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Meet with community members, law enforcement, and local media to schedule a date and recruit volunteers. You will want 15-20 volunteers for registration and skills stations, a photographer, and someone to keep track of things like number of volunteers & attendees, costs, time, and materials donated/purchased.
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Choose a location with a solid surface like blacktop or cement. Elementary school playgrounds work well. Make sure that it is large enough for all skills stations and obstacle courses!
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Make a schedule so that your volunteers know what is needed. Setup for a rodeo typically takes about an hour and a half if everyone works together.
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Reach out to businesses in your community to sponsor things like food, water, prizes, and awards or certificates.
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Print off signs that clearly identify stations and written instructions for your station volunteers. These are available from SD EMS for Children by request at sdemsc@usd.edu
At South Dakota EMS for Children, we believe every child deserves a safe environment to grow, learn, and play. We've partnered with the SD Office of Highway Safety to empower EMTs, Emergency Departments, Public Safety Providers, Childcare Providers, educators, parents, caregivers, and communities with essential knowledge and tools to prevent injuries and ensure the well-being of children at every stage. From riding in cars to playing outdoors, we’re here to help you create a safer world for the children you love.