American Expat Wins Hearts in Pattaya with Helmets for Kids

[snoop1130]

Photo: The Pattaya News

 

Savvy Rick Brown, a 57-year-old American living in Pattaya, is becoming a local hero for his heartwarming initiative to improve child safety. Known on TikTok as "savvyrickbrown," Brown has been distributing free motorbike helmets to children, a gesture that has endeared him to many online and throughout the community.

 

Concerned by the frequent sight of children riding motorbikes without helmets, Brown took it upon himself to address this safety issue. With his own funds and kind donations, he began purchasing helmets and giving them away on Pattaya's Pratumnak Soi 5. His actions have not only garnished praise but have also stirred conversations on the importance of safety gear for young riders in Thailand.

 

Brown's videos often show him engaging with families, offering helmets to parents and securing their appreciative acceptance. Some of his posts have gone viral, amassing over a million views, as people worldwide commend his altruism and share their own harrowing stories of road accidents.

 

 

Having lived in Thailand for two years, Brown expresses a deep affection for the local community. He explains that some families may not have the financial means to purchase helmets, motivating him to act. His ongoing efforts, supported by both local resources and international backers, aim to raise awareness and encourage a culture of safety among Thailand's youngest riders.

 

Brown's initiative underscores a universal spirit of kindness and exemplifies how one individual's concern can spark meaningful change in a community, even beyond borders, reported The Pattaya News.

 

-- 2024-12-16

 

 

[Jingthing]

Does he have a work permit for handing out the helmets?

 

(Sorry.)

[BangkokReady]

I wonder how many of these helmets will actually be worn?  And how long his affection lasts...  🤔

[JoePai]

That kid must have had a hard life

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, BangkokReady said:

I wonder how many of these helmets will actually be worn?  And how long his affection lasts...  🤔

 

Good point.

More than once I have bought helmets for the staff.

They then sell them at the market.

Only 2 or 3 still wear their helmets.

[Gottfrid]

Coming to Thailand and feel the need to teach the citizens of the country?

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Brown's videos often show him engaging with families, offering helmets to parents and securing their appreciative acceptance.

Something every parent should do without exception... but that's not the Thai way.

Free gifts are welcome.

[steven100]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Brown's initiative underscores a universal spirit of kindness and exemplifies how one individual's concern can spark meaningful change in a community, 

 

 

no ......    it underscores how useless Thailand's police are at administering proper safety laws.   

[jacko45k]

12 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

I wonder how many of these helmets will actually be worn?  And how long his affection lasts...  🤔

I suspect maybe just for the rest of the day...... 

[jippytum]

Nice gesture. However it is not lack of money  stopping peoplet wearing helmets its low IQ. 

[BangkokReady]

8 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Coming to Thailand and feel the need to teach the citizens of the country?

 

You don't feel you have knowledge or ways of doing things from back home that would benefit Thai people to learn?

[mdr224]

A case of helping people who dont want to be helped. Ive experienced that enough times to know the satisfaction from it is very short

[actonion]

13 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

I wonder how many of these helmets will actually be worn?  And how long his affection lasts...  🤔

Most will be sold within a couple of hours

[actonion]

If Thai's cared enough about Thai's  why not give a Helmet free when buying the Bike,  theres enough Red plates around, or maybe they do but they will be sold within a few hours, as a Thai teenager told me its Chicken to wear a Helmet, as well as showing a Red light at the back

[jacko45k]

Just now, actonion said:

If Thai's cared enough about Thai's  why not give a Helmet free when buying the Bike,  theres enough Red plates around, or maybe they do but they will be sold within a few hours, as a Thai teenager told me its Chicken to wear a Helmet, as well as showing a Red light at the back

I got two free piece of shxt helmets when I bought mine, and some 'too small' jacket, I gave the Mrs. Mind you, it was 2006 and the practice may have stopped..... and been replaced with a first aid kit. 

[watchcat]

14 hours ago, JoePai said:

That kid must have had a hard life

 

Born as a grown up?

[Gottfrid]

2 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

 

You don't feel you have knowledge or ways of doing things from back home that would benefit Thai people to learn?

Yes, I have a lot, but I´ve also learned they see and do things different here. What I do is doing it, and if they see it as better, they will just look and do like that next time. no need to teach people as we would be right in everything we do.

[watchcat]

2 hours ago, jippytum said:

Nice gesture. However it is not lack of money  stopping peoplet wearing helmets its low IQ. 

 

Or no law enforcement?

[Denim]

Good for him. A generous and proactive gesture. At least he is actually trying to do something to help.

[pomchop]

2 hours ago, jippytum said:

Nice gesture. However it is not lack of money  stopping peoplet wearing helmets its low IQ. 

As proven over and over by the massive numbers of farangs who do have the $$ and should know better but still ride around with no helmets...and these are grown adults not kids.

[BigStar]

6 hours ago, mdr224 said:

A case of helping people who dont want to be helped.

 

How many refused?

[balo]

Well I give him 5 stars for trying but as we all know the kids copy their parents, and most of them do not wear helmets. Buddha will protect them anyway. 

 

I just walked down Jomtien soi 7 today and counted bikes with helmets, 80% were not wearing one and that includes foreigners . 

 

Maybe he can save a life or two, who knows, but in the end it comes down to laws and regulations. And money since certified helmets are expensive.

[BigStar]

7 hours ago, jippytum said:

Nice gesture. However it is not lack of money  stopping peoplet wearing helmets its low IQ. 

 

Yeah, I always grimace mentally when I see another of those bald farangs riding w/o a helmet. Can see that head crushed like an eggshell.

[BarBoy]

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Savvy Rick Brown, a 57-year-old American living in Pattaya, is becoming a local hero for his heartwarming initiative to improve child safety. Known on TikTok as "savvyrickbrown," Brown has been distributing free motorbike helmets to children, a gesture that has endeared him to many online and throughout the community.

good guy is Rick Brown!

[PETERTHEEATER]

Off topic but has anyone had their ring massaged at that shop? Did you end up on top of the Christmas tree?

[BarBoy]

18 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Off topic but has anyone had their ring massaged at that shop? Did you end up on top of the Christmas tree?

classic mate 😄