Dr. Joseph E. Cangas

We had a great day at Bike Smart at the Ferguson Farmers Market on July 28 Dr. Joe Cangas of Helmets First was there to do helmet fitting and to sell helmets for just $7.
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Dr. Joe Cangas donated a pair of tickets to see "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at the Muny.
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Pictured above, Joe Cangas and Sherry Chase do the honors of drawing the winning raffle tickets; Matthew and Lucas receive the last two free helmets from Helmets First; and the entire Bike Smart Team for the July 7 event.
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Dr. Joe Cangas gave away 50 helmets and sold a few more for the amazingly low price of $7.We handed out dozens of maps and informational literature on bike commuting and riding well in traffic.

We also raffled off a brand new Kona Kil-Auea "Double Cromoly Butted" BMX bike frame and a red Jandd wheel cover bag, suitable for two wheels up to 29", and sold reflective slap straps and t-shirts, raising over $70 for the Bike Fed.We all had a great time and we'd like to thank Sherry Chase, Marketmaster, Tony and Jamie of St. Louis Recumbent Bicycles, Dr. Joe Cangas of Helmets First, our volunteers - Karen Karabell and Perry Russ, and Patty Vinyard (staff) for making this a great event.

Illini Pediatrics, LLC, Joseph E. Cangas, M.D. 281-4325

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Joseph Cangas - Helmets First

Joseph E. Cangas, M.D.

Dr. Joseph E. Cangas
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All email goes directly to Dr. Cangas.

Joseph Cangas, M.D., a pediatrician at Illini Pediatrics in Columbia, Ill., and an avid bicyclist, knows first-hand how easy it is to "wipe out" on a bike.

"Every biker has wrecks," Dr. Cangas said."Most bikers don't say ‘if you wreck,' but ‘when you wreck next.' There's a bump in the road, your tire hits a grate, a car swerves - some things you can't help.Whenever I ride, I always wear a helmet."

But, despite statistics proving that wearing a helmet can prevent serious head injuries, Dr. Cangas found that too many of his young patients shunned the headgear.He decided to try to change all that with a community program that not only educates kids about the importance of bike helmets, but also provides free helmets and prizes for wearing them.

Dr. Cangas, 37, recently was recognized by the American Medical Association for his Helmets First! program.He received the AMA's Young Physician Section Community Service Award for 2007.Selection for the annual award is based on positive effect on a community, thoroughness of planning and implementation and comprehensiveness of information submitted.The AMA-YPS represents physicians who are under 40 or within the first eight years of professional practice after residency and fellowship training.

"I was surprised and honored to receive the award," Dr. Cangas said."But seeing the increased number of kids in the community wearing their bicycle helmets - that's the greatest reward."

Dr. Cangas, a Columbia, Ill. resident and staff member at St. Anthony's Medical Center, began practicing pediatric medicine three years ago at the Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation in Salem, Ill.It was there he first became known as "the helmet doctor."

"In the beginning, most of the kids in Salem didn't wear bicycle helmets," he said.
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In the fall of 2004, Dr. Cangas decided to visit the schools in Salem to talk about the importance of wearing bike helmets.But he knew "just talking" wasn't going to excite his young audience.Giving them free helmets, however, just might.With a $600 donation from his employer, Dr. Cangas bought 100 bicycle helmets, which he distributed to his kindergarten audience.

"I wanted a way to actually get helmets on the kids' heads, not just tell them about safety and hope they wore helmets," Dr. Cangas said."I also wanted a way to encourage older kids - who I knew wouldn't care what I told them - to wear bike helmets."

Dr. Cangas tapped into the resources of the entire community; and on May 19, 2005, he launched the Helmets First! program.The fire department used their ladders to lash a huge banner to the front of the Walmart store.Local businesses displayed Helmets First! signs in their windows and donated cash and prizes.The police department agreed to hand out prizes - ice cream cones, movie rentals or tickets to sporting events - to kids "caught" wearing helmets while riding their bikes.The "helmet doctor" found a way to make it "cool" to wear a bicycle helmet.

When Dr. Cangas moved his practice to Columbia, Ill. a year ago, he brought his Helmets First! program to that community as well.He gives presentations - and free bike helmets - to school and community groups on an average of once a week.He has organized a total of four bicycle rodeos, in the Illinois communities of Salem, Columbia, Waterloo and Dupo, and has scheduled two more this fall in Millstadt and Belleville.Currently, the Waterloo, Columbia and Salem Police Departments are handing out rewards to kids wearing helmets.And Dr. Cangas always is available to properly fit helmets at his office.

Donations to keep the program afloat have come from Cardinals Care, whose $5,000 grant bought more than 700 helmets; from the Illinois State Neurosurgical Society, who donated $2,000 and 200 helmets and who used his rodeo model to organize similar events throughout the state; and from local businesses and residents.

Through Helmets First!, Dr. Cangas has raised community awareness regarding the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet.He has provided helmet education to more than 2,600 children and has given away some 1,300 helmets.Currently, he has about 200 helmets left to distribute and 400 requests to fill.He continues to seek donations to keep the program afloat.

"Since I started this program, I've heard so many stories from everyone who has friends or relatives who had serious accidents on their bikes and were lucky to be alive - all because they were wearing helmets," Dr. Cangas said.

Joseph Cangas, M.D., a pediatrician at Illini Pediatrics in Columbia, Ill., and an avid bicyclist, knows first-hand how easy it is to "wipe out" on a bike.

"Every biker has wrecks," Dr. Cangas said."Most bikers don't say ‘if you wreck,' but ‘when you wreck next.' There's a bump in the road, your tire hits a grate, a car swerves - some things you can't help.Whenever I ride, I always wear a helmet."

But, despite statistics proving that wearing a helmet can prevent serious head injuries, Dr. Cangas found that too many of his young patients shunned the headgear.He decided to try to change all that with a community program that not only educates kids about the importance of bike helmets, but also provides free helmets and prizes for wearing them.

Dr. Cangas, 37, recently was recognized by the American Medical Association for his Helmets First! program.He received the AMA's Young Physician Section Community Service Award for 2007.Selection for the annual award is based on positive effect on a community, thoroughness of planning and implementation and comprehensiveness of information submitted.The AMA-YPS represents physicians who are under 40 or within the first eight years of professional practice after residency and fellowship training.

"I was surprised and honored to receive the award," Dr. Cangas said."But seeing the increased number of kids in the community wearing their bicycle helmets - that's the greatest reward."

Dr. Cangas, a Columbia, Ill. resident and staff member at St. Anthony's Medical Center, began practicing pediatric medicine three years ago at the Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation in Salem, Ill.It was there he first became known as "the helmet doctor."

"In the beginning, most of the kids in Salem didn't wear bicycle helmets," he said.
...
In the fall of 2004, Dr. Cangas decided to visit the schools in Salem to talk about the importance of wearing bike helmets.But he knew "just talking" wasn't going to excite his young audience.Giving them free helmets, however, just might.With a $600 donation from his employer, Dr. Cangas bought 100 bicycle helmets, which he distributed to his kindergarten audience.

"I wanted a way to actually get helmets on the kids' heads, not just tell them about safety and hope they wore helmets," Dr. Cangas said."I also wanted a way to encourage older kids - who I knew wouldn't care what I told them - to wear bike helmets."

Dr. Cangas tapped into the resources of the entire community; and on May 19, 2005, he launched the Helmets First! program.The fire department used their ladders to lash a huge banner to the front of the Walmart store.Local businesses displayed Helmets First! signs in their windows and donated cash and prizes.The police department agreed to hand out prizes - ice cream cones, movie rentals or tickets to sporting events - to kids "caught" wearing helmets while riding their bikes.The "helmet doctor" found a way to make it "cool" to wear a bicycle helmet.

When Dr. Cangas moved his practice to Columbia, Ill. a year ago, he brought his Helmets First! program to that community as well.He gives presentations - and free bike helmets - to school and community groups on an average of once a week.He has organized a total of four bicycle rodeos, in the Illinois communities of Salem, Columbia, Waterloo and Dupo, and has scheduled two more this fall in Millstadt and Belleville.Currently, the Waterloo, Columbia and Salem Police Departments are handing out rewards to kids wearing helmets.And Dr. Cangas always is available to properly fit helmets at his office.

Donations to keep the program afloat have come from Cardinals Care, whose $5,000 grant bought more than 700 helmets; from the Illinois State Neurosurgical Society, who donated $2,000 and 200 helmets and who used his rodeo model to organize similar events throughout the state; and from local businesses and residents.

Through Helmets First!, Dr. Cangas has raised community awareness regarding the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet.He has provided helmet education to more than 2,600 children and has given away some 1,300 helmets.Currently, he has about 200 helmets left to distribute and 400 requests to fill.He continues to seek donations to keep the program afloat.

"Since I started this program, I've heard so many stories from everyone who has friends or relatives who had serious accidents on their bikes and were lucky to be alive - all because they were wearing helmets," Dr. Cangas said.

Riding around town on his bicycle, Dr. Joseph Cangas isn't worried about being cool or looking dangerous.

Sporting his bicycle helmet, he is more concerned with being a good role model.

As founder of Helmets First, a bicycle safety organization, Cangas is passionate about spreading the safety gospel.

"When I was beginning in medicine, I saw so many people that didn't wear their helmets when riding," Cangas said."I just think it's something that is easily done to prevent head injuries.">

Cangas, a pediatrician at Illini Pediatrics in Columbia, decided in 2004 that instead of joining up with another organization he wanted to start his own.

Practicing medicine in Salem, Ill., Cangas decided he needed to go to local schools and talk about safety and the proper way to use and wear the helmets.

"A lot of people just wear the helmets like they bought them," Cangas said."They are supposed to be buckled tightly, worn flat on the head and right above the eyebrows.

"It doesn't do any good if it's just hanging loose."

While in Salem, Cangas also concocted a reward system with the Salem Police Department.The SPD was encouraged to award children seen wearing their helmets with various prizes like St. Louis Cardinals tickets and fast food gift coupons.

When he moved to Columbia in June, Cangas brought the program with him.His first big day in town came with Safety Week, a program designed to alert kids about safety procedures.

At the seminar hosted by the Columbia Police Department, Cangas talked about proper fitting of helmets and checked to see whether the kids were in line.

"A lot of the kids' helmets weren't fitting right," Cangas said.

To solve the problem, Cangas provided a gift certificate for a free helmet to all of those in attendance.

Cangas said he relies solely on donations for the purchase of rewards and helmets.He gets the helmets through St. Louis Children's Hospital, which provides them at a discount rate.Since the organization's formation, it has given out 433 free helmets.

So far, his relationship with businesses in Columbia is slowly growing, with donations from Midwest Vision Care, Ron's Pharmacy, Columbia Medicine Shoppe and Sunset Ford.

But there's always a need for more.

"All the support I can get I will take," Cangas said.

Joseph E. Cangas, M.D.