RAYONG Province, Thailand - August 15 ,2013

Students and teachers at Wat Prachum Mitr Bumrung School in Rayong Province were the recipients of 238 helmets from the Siam Solvay Foundation. The donation launched Solvay’s Helmets for Kids partnership with the Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation to increase helmet use and reduce road traffic injuries among child motorcycle passengers in Rayong province.

Prachum Mitr is one of 14 small communities in Banchang, Rayong Province, which has received support from Siam Solvay Foundation for couples of years. Wat Prachum Mitr Bumrung School is located on a side road not far from a four-lane highway in an industrial area leaving students at risk during their commute due to low visibility of their side road and, without helmets, unprotected.

Despite national traffic law mandating helmet use for drivers and passengers, only 43 percent of motorcyclists wear helmets on Thailand’s roads. Among children, helmet use falls to only eight percent. Many families ignore the requirement due to a lack of concern about road safety. Helmets for Kids engages parents to impress upon them the importance of protecting their children from road injury.