NEW MIDDLETOWN, Ohio - The New Middletown Police Department has been awarded 30 bicycle helmets for distributing as part of the "Put a Lid on It" bike helmet campaign.

"Put a Lid on It" is a campaign by the Ohio chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

According to the release, only 10-20% of children wear helmets while more than 70% ride bikes.

Helmets help defend against head injuries and lower the risk of head injury by 75%.

The New Middletown police department says that it will be handing out safety citations between May and August to children they see wearing helmets.

The safety citations give the child a free kids meal at the Subway in town.

Helmets are available at the Municipal Building from 9 am until 3 pm Monday through Friday.

The helmets fit children from ages five to 13-years-old.