Bicycle helmets save lives

[McClef]

I wonder how so many people managed to survive from the invention of the bicycle until these things were invented....

Mixture of freedom of choice and proving risk compensation theory I expect.

[Father Bill]

The question isn't whether riders think they're safer and do dumb things. That means to me that they don't think at all. If they did, they'd both wear the helmet and continue to ride carefully. I don't like doing unneccessary funerals for young people.

[Riverkilt]

Hold a cantelope in your hands at the same height as your head. Drop it to the pavement.
A great demo/convincer for kids.

When seat belts first came out - lap belts - I figured it couldn't hurt to wear one. I was wearing one when I was hit head on by a drunk driver trying to enter the freeway on the exit ramp I was using at the time. I walked away because I was strapped to the car. All the stuff in the car was thrown out when the impact popped the doors. Most of the stuff was run over by my car or the drunk's car...I woulda been squished.

In college knew a motorcycle rider who crashed without a helmet - he became a vegie but worked and worked and got back to where he could ride a bike again. He crashed again - with no helmet again. Last I saw him he was a permanent vegie.

Helmets and other safety stuff work.

[LewdiKris]

You only get one head, it makes sense to do any and everything you can to protect it!

LK

[denmcdough]

Bicycling is a very dear subject to me, as I log over 5,000 miles/year. I can not even fathom biking without a helmet. Obviously, there is never a guarantee, but I'd prefer to take my chances with one than without.

In recent months, I've had three bike firends end up in the hospital with serious bike injuries....two were head. One of them had no helmet and has survived, but not sure what the long term outcome will be. The other friend had his helmet and is rcovering well, especially when the doctors thought he'd not make it.

Scary stuff this biking. Be safe>>>>>WEAR a helmet!!!

[ForresterModern]

Wife had a hard fall about 6 years ago while road biking and literally split her helmet halffway up the side of the impact. Got up shaken but walked away from what I (an experienced physician) know would have been a life-threatening injury. She keeps the fractured helmet around as a quiet reminder of a helment's value, and to show our young son as well as any other obstinate folks who refuse to wear a helmet when they ride with us (we will not ride with anyone who does not wear a helmet, and our son wears one on his two-wheeler with training wheels as well as when in the bike trailer----heck I think he likes it so much he would wear it to school if we let him).

If you are going to ride a bike or motorcycle without a helmet, I only ask you to do the world one favor------please check the "yes" box for organ donation on your driver's license. At least someone may benefit from your stupidity.

jeff

[Frank McGrath]

In late July, I fell off of my bar stool and did a face plant into the dirt. Luckily, I was wearing a full face helmet. When I opened my eyes after hitting the ground, all I could see was dirt. Yes, Helmets save lives. Not just in bicycling.

For those that have not seen the pictures, It was a gas powered bar stool. I was doing about 20 MPH when I was thown.


And was very sober.

[ForresterModern]

In late July, I fell off of my bar stool and did a face plant into the dirt. Luckily, I was wearing a full face helmet. When I opened my eyes after hitting the ground, all I could see was dirt. Yes, Helmets save lives. Not just in bicycling.

Note to self--remember to wear helmet next time I delve deeply into the scotch cabinet. Thanks for the advice. Although a full face helmet might get in the way of imbibing.

[Dixiecat]

Note to self--remember to wear helmet next time I delve deeply into the scotch cabinet. Thanks for the advice. Although a full face helmet might get in the way of imbibing.

note to ForresterModern: bendy straws

[McClef]

I once ended up in hospital due to wearing a full face motorcycle helmet in the house - running up the stairs and banging it on the ceiling which sent a shock wave down my neck causing injury to one of my neck bones.

Without the helmet it wouldn't have happened.