BERLIN — Last month an elementary school student was in an accident riding his bicycle.

He was not wearing a helmet and needed to be air-lifted to a trauma center.

As a result of the accident, the Berlin Area Ambulance Association decided to purchase more than 500 helmets for elementary students in both the Berlin and Shanksville school district.

“One child without a helmet is too many,” said association President Sue Walker.

Wednesday morning representatives from the ambulance association handed out helmets to all Berlin students grades kindergarten to fourth. They plan to purchase helmets for the kindergarten class and new elementary school students every year. Next week they will be giving out helmets to Shanksville students.

After the children were properly fitted for a helmet, they were given information about bicycle safety and a tour of the ambulances.

Walker said when she approached the schools about donating helmets officials were excited. “Berlin especially because of the accident,” she said.

Elementary school Principal Pam Webreck reported there were some students who said they don’t have a helmet.

“We are very concerned for the safety of the children when we are not in school,” she said. “We just thought it was a great idea. We’re very appreciative of the ambulance association for taking on this project.”

She said kids were excited Wednesday after receiving their helmets. There are 309 kids in Berlin who are involved.

“We prepared a flyer to send home,” she said. “We sincerely hope the parents will enforce the helmet rule at home,” she said.

It is against the law for anyone under the age of 12 to ride a bicycle without a helmet.

“We made the borough police aware that helmets were given to everyone,” Walker said. “There is no reason anyone under the age of 12 should not have a helmet.”

Berlin Borough police officer Chad Salley confirmed the law. He said passengers and kids in a restraining seat also need to wear a helmet. According to the vehicle code, a child and parent or guardian can be fined $25 if the child is caught not wearing a helmet.