BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!

Subject: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 05:36 PM

I have not been around much lately; real-life issues have kinda distracted me. Two weeks ago my precious daughter, M, blithely coasted off the bike path onto a road and was "t-boned" by a car. She will be fine, she is one of the lucky ones. She was wearing her helmet. Her helmet is smashed, so were her glasses, so was her big toe, a couple of ribs and vertebrae. She's been hobbling around with a cane, and had surgery on Friday on her toe. I have driven down to see her several times (she lives about 90 miles away near her college) and twice have brought her home for a few days of tlc.

She's resilient, brave and strong, but very humbled and embarrassed and in a lot of pain. This has been one big AFGO for her! But she has a wonderful group of loving friends who rush to help whenever she finally caves and asks for help.

Her mama is still trembling and getting over the "what if's". I've already had one major loss in my life, and don't like to think "what if .... she was lazy and skipped the helmet 'just this once'... the driver didn't swerve... the driver had been going faster or the vehicle was bigger/heavier... what if she were brain-damaged or crippled or..."

For many years I've made a practice of gratitude for all good gifts in my life. This has only magnified my gratitude and appreciation for each precious moment.

So, you bicyclists out there- WEAR YOUR HELMET, please?

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: Mrrzy
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 05:39 PM

Woof. Glad she's OK, sounds like she could have really broken her back even with the head uninjured... yikes.

Indeed. I always do and so do my kids.

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 05:42 PM

And motorcyclists... I had a good friend badly hurt when a car made a sudden left turn in front of him and he was NOT wearing a helmet. Major head trauma and it changed his entire personality.

I am glad it was no worse for M., Animaterra, and I hope that she is well soon.

ALL cyclists of ALL sorts...please follow the rules of the road and remember that most vehicles are bigger than you.

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: olddude
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 05:43 PM

OMG, I am so sorry to hear this ... please know that I pray she gets better really soon ... OMG ... Thank goodness she was wearing the helmet ...

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 05:55 PM

your daughter is very lucky.

folks here always wear helmets (except for those who are immortal & invulnerable)

My sister-in-law is a nurse & has worked in emergency & theatre & once told us about folks who didn't wear a helmet & gave us vivid descriptions of broken skulls with brains spilling out.

I also remember someone official telling riders to wear heavier clothes - skin breaks as soon as it touches the ground, denim last a few seconds longer, leathers & other modern protective gear last a lot longer when a human body hits a road.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 06:02 PM

And always remember that Helmets are ONCE only devices ! If a Crash Helmet has had a knock , REPLACE IT as a hairine crack will make it worse than useless if it is used again !

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: catspaw49
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 06:10 PM

Hi Old Buddy.......I am thankful nothing worse happened. Double L, your life has been going too well of late for something terrible to happen! If it does, send it to me and I'll kick the crap outta' whatever it is....just for you!

Seriously, my best to her and tell her she also needs to know that just any old helmet will NOT do. Make sure it fits and is a quality product.............Old saying: If you have a two dollar head, buy a two dollar helmet!


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: maeve
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 06:25 PM

I'm keeping you and M. in mind. I'm grateful she's ok. Helmets are a good thing.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 06:46 PM

THAT'S what we will get Morgan for his birthday next weekend. I noticed him riding without it to my house, carefully with his dad walking beside, BUT it had me with my heart in my mouth. I think he said something about his old one not fitting. Thanks for the reminder, 2Ls. I, too, worked ER for awhile and used to get furious at motorcyclists who refused to wear a helmet AND protective clothing. Bicyclists, too.

Very glad to hear M will be okay and how fortunate it was not worse. Our children have no idea what we go through when such things happen!:-)

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 07:01 PM

Thanks, everyone. M. was quite surprised when most of her friends greeted her the next few days with "Oh, I'm so glad you're alive!!". She is still at that age of immortality- but I think it's sinking in.

No more biking for this year, but she'll be getting a new helmet AND a new/used bike, come spring!

I love you all, ya know??

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 07:20 PM

As it happens, I called the sheriff today to ask them to look into a family outing at which people were trading off riding a 2-wheel moped thing up and down the street. When the kids started appearing, 8, 9, 10 years old, no helmets, kind of wobbly, and on a city street, I decided it was time to have someone point out that they needed helmets (and that the kids were too young to be on the street. Period.) I saw the sheriff go by, I don't know for sure that he found the group and spoke to them, but I noticed after that that a grownup drove into the woods across from the house and the kids rode in there (private property). So someone still could go off a cliff into the creek, hit a tree, whatever. I hope they understood the risk they are taking.

I'm glad your daughter is recuperating, Allison, and I'm sure you'll have a doozy of a Thanksgiving dinner this year, won't you?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: Wesley S
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 08:16 PM

Allison - I'm glad to hear that everything turned out OK. These kids of ours are too precious to lose.

My sister works in an ER. They call folks who don't wear helmets "organ donors".

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: gnu
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 08:53 PM

Oh My. Words escape me. Oh my. I hope things work out okay and she heals well. When I read "ribs and vertebrae" I cringed. Thoughts and prayers.

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: artbrooks
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 09:10 PM

My wife is an occupational therapist who works in a rehab hospital. A current patient is a (former) motorcyclist with a high spine injury. If he is very lucky, his next vehicle might be a powered wheelchair. He will never wipe his own butt again.

I am a long-time cyclist who joined the over-the-bars club many years ago and who always wears a helmet. One of the things that makes me cringe is a parent with a child on a bicycle kid-seat, with a helmet on the kid but none on the parent, or a family cycling outing with the parents helmetless - basically orphans-in-waiting. If I say something, I get a look as though I was from outer space.

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: open mike
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 10:14 PM

some riders (motorcycle) avoid states where they have to wear helmets and only ride where they are not forced by laws to wear head protection
(brain buckets)20 states have full helmet laws for all motorcycle riders: ... 19 States have helmet laws that exempt adult riders. this may be different for bicycle riders...but all should be mandatory..

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: Dave Swan
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 10:33 PM

A,

I'm so sorry you and your daughter had to have this happen. I'm glad all will be well.

Let me add my voice to the others who have said that helmets are NOT optional.

I know from decades of treating accident victims that helmets make a critical difference in outcome.

Herewith begins the lesson: Wear your helmet. Wear it properly. More coverage is better. Whatever your perceived discomfort in the moment, it means nothing compared to a life of preventable disability. Preach this to all non-helmet wearing infidels.

D

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: Pistachio
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 06:40 PM

So glad to read M 'will be fine - but ribs and vertebrae will hurt for a long while.
I teach 'cycling proficiency' to primary school children and am thankful that our local authority has a blanket Helmet policy - though some of my colleagues want to ensure the message of looking first gets across to all who travel on two wheels whether with or without a lid!
My husband split his helmet in two and shredded himself on gravel a few years ago - and I always tell the trainees that even 'big boys' fall of their bicycles.
Sadly a member of my local church who was about to graduate was not so lucky. Her helmet was secure on her head but she was in a major accident.
Best wishes to M - and you too!
Hazel.xx

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: Dharmabum
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 07:48 PM

Being a parent really takes it out of you at times,doesn't it Allison?
I'm glad you're both OK.

I've had a lot of positive/healing energy sent my way lately.
Sending some your way.

         Ron.

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: JennieG
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 07:55 PM

Ouch to both of you.....your daughter for her cuts and bruises, and you for the emotional trauma. Life is so precious.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: Midchuck
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 09:06 PM

some riders (motorcycle) avoid states where they have to wear helmets and only ride where they are not forced by laws to wear head protection
(brain buckets)20 states have full helmet laws for all motorcycle riders: ... 19 States have helmet laws that exempt adult riders. this may be different for bicycle riders...but all should be mandatory..

But then everything that it would be better if we did should be mandatory, and everything that it would be better if we didn't do should be forbidden, shouldn't it? We can all agree that any individual choice is a bad thing...I guess. So maybe we should do away with elections?

(I'm sure someone will construe this post as saying that people on bicycles or motorcycles don't need to wear helmets. The person who is first to do so can be pointed out as an example of the kind of mentality you end up with by not wearing one. That ain't my point.)

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 11:55 PM

Always felt that compulsory helmet laws were counter-evolutionary

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: Amergin
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 01:51 AM

Oh boy....sorry she had an accident, but thankfully she'll be all right....

personally, I am one who believes that I should wear a helmet when I'm riding the barstool.....

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: maeve
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 09:12 AM

This morning brought news of three young ones dead in an accident involving a truck hitting trees. The driver was dear to me as a child.

Life is precious, and fleeting. I'm glad your daughter will recover, Allison.

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: sian, west wales
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 05:32 AM

Glad to hear it wasn't worse that it might have been, Allison.

It does, however, make me think: my mother has just bought one of those scooter things and is having a great time re-discovering the Great Outdoors. (Well, the immediate neighbourhood at any rate.) I'm wondering if she should have a helmet. She never goes above Tortoise (the scale on her scooter zooming from Tortoise to Hare; cute) but there's always The Other Guy ...

I'd have a fight on my hands as she doesn't even wear hats, but maybe it's a fight worth having.

sian

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 04:26 PM

Oh, maeve, how sad.
My girl is perking up and hobbling about. I love you all.

Subject: RE: BS: Life is precious OR Wear Your Helmet!!!
From: Slag
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 04:41 PM

Thank God! And I know. I'm alive today, thanks to a Shoei helmet.