FULLERTON : 2 Campaign for Bike Helmets at School

Two people who suffered severe brain injuries in traffic accidents urged students at Laguna Road School on Wednesday to wear bicycle helmets.

Beginning April 13, Laguna Road students will be required to wear helmets as they ride bicycles to and from school.

Laguna Road and Raymond School are the only elementary schools in the Fullerton School District to require helmets, but district Supt. Duncan Johnson said he is considering a districtwide mandate.

As Ignacio Gamboa and Ryan Baxter spoke to fourth-graders in one room, their comments were broadcast live to television sets in other classrooms. Only fourth- through sixth-graders are allowed to bicycle to school, and about 25 do so each day.

Gamboa, 21, a student at Rancho Santiago College, said he was hit by a car two years ago when he was riding his bicycle without wearing a helmet. The Anaheim resident said he was in a coma for a week. He said he had to relearn skills as simple as tying his shoelaces. He also had to abandon his plans to become a policeman.

“Things just kind of don’t work the way they used to,” Gamboa told the students.

Ryan Baxter, 14, a freshman at Troy High School, was hit by the mirror of a truck as he crossed the street. He lost 20% of his brain tissue, and a metal plate was put in his head, he told the children.

Both urged students to wear helmets for biking, roller skating or skateboarding.

Fifth-graders in Loryn Lawson’s class watched the two speakers on television and then discussed bike helmet safety. Kirk Landgraf, 11, said a friend of his doesn’t think it’s cool to wear a bike helmet. “He doesn’t want to mess up his hair,” he said.

Kelly Walker, 11, said he thinks that it’s “uncool” to get in a serious accident. He said he plans to buy a helmet soon.

Simi Phull, 9, was impressed by the talk. “I want to make sure my parents get me a helmet,” she said. “I don’t want an injury to hurt my life.”

The PTA is sponsoring a program in which students may buy helmets for $18.

The helmet policy was initiated by parents Cori Miller and Eileen Young, both PTA members. Miller, who teaches in Irvine, said the Irvine Unified School District has a policy requiring students to wear helmets. She wants the Fullerton district to adopt a like policy.

Johnson said he is reviewing the Irvine Unified policy and will meet with principals and PTA members in his district before asking the school board to consider a districtwide helmet policy.

Laguna Road school sent home “safety agreements” to be signed by parents, students and the principal. Parents who don’t want their children to wear helmets may meet with the principal and get a waiver.