Each year, over 7,500 San Marcos children are treated at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego - many for traumatic injuries sustained while riding bicycles or as passengers in car accidents.

One of the biggest challenges all parents face is keeping their children safe and, if possible, preventing injuries...particularly those that fall into the category of "pediatric trauma" to the head and chest.

Unfortunately, these injuries will still happen and, in some cases, happen when the parent is NOT nearby or, if also injured, not able to provide the emergency information medical personnel need.

               S.H.I.E.L.D. Sticker

Does your child ride his/her bike to school or around the neighborhood?  If so, odds are good that you won't be nearby if a serious accident occurs. 

By completing the bicycle helmet safety sticker and putting it inside your child's helmet, you are providing emergency medical personnel the vital information they need to locate you and begin emergency treatment.  The S.H.I.E.L.D sticker (Safety Helmet Identification and Emergency Lifesaving Data) stores potentially lifesaving information in a child’s bicycle or sports helmet.

In the event of an accident, rescue workers have immediate access to the child’s confidential, personal information. Medics can simply remove the helmet, detach the S.H.I.E.L.D ID tag from inside, and are then better prepared to immediately give the child the best possible medical treatment.

Each S.H.I.E.L.D ID tag is completed by the parent or guardian, sealed in a plastic pouch, and attached inside the crown of the helmet. Privacy is assured, because no one can read the child’s personal information without removing and opening the plastic pouch. The S.H.I.E.L.D. program is nationally recognized by law enforcement, fire, and other emergency personnel.

And by the way…do YOU ride a bike?  Adults also can be injured while bike riding and should have a bike safety sticker inside their helmets too!

               Child Safety Seat Sticker

Car accidents happen to even the safest drivers and adults may be injured and unable to provide information to the emergency medical personnel on the scene.  Once again, by completing the car seat safety sticker and attaching it to the back of your child's car seat or booster seat, you are providing the information needed to begin immediate assistance for your child and you.

The Child Safety Seat Sticker contains the information needed to quickly identify a child at the scene of a collision and includes pertinent health information. This information is critical to first responders, as parent and child are often separated following a car crash.