Dr. Russell, you make my point a great deal better than I
do. The helmet can make the most common head injuries on
a bicycle marginally less serious. On the other hand
they ain't all that serious to begin with ad there
aren't that many of them. So how did helmets ever become
any sort of discussion point in the USA?
"Curtis L. Russell" <
[email protected]> wrote in
message
news:[email protected]...
> On 16 Mar 2004 20:15:45 GMT,
[email protected] (Xbaycb)
> wrote:
>
> >
> >I have been hit by automobiles three times while bike
> >riding, each time
while
> >wearing a helmet. The first time my helmeted head
> >shattered the car's windshield, the second time my
> >helmeted head cracked the windshield while
the
> >car's fender broke my knee cap, the third time I was
> >thrown over my
handlebars
> >and my helmet cracked when I hit the ground head first.
> >
> >If it weren't for my helmets, I wouldn't be alive today
> >getting ready for
a
> >century ride next month.
>
> You're a statistical anomaly and either incredibly unlucky
> or incredibly inept. And you manage to have at least two
> accidents that don't follow the normal pattern of
> collision.
>
> I've seen two people shatter auto windows - one a rear,
> one a front. Both wouldn't have an idea of what happened
> to their helmet as they both ended up in an ambulance from
> the loss of blood. Both were well in excess of 25 mph,
> probably nearer to 35 in a sprint.
>
> The problem with the two sides of the argument is that it
> simply isn't that simple. OOH, just because a person gives
> up cycling doesn't mean that they give up exercise. I
> doubt many active people simply decide to sit down. OTOH,
> bicycling without a helmet IS a lot better long term than
> no exercise at all. OTOOH, bicycling with a helmet is
> probably marginally safer (and helmets are both cheaper,
> other than the latest models, and more accepted nowadays)
> than riding without one.
>
> I stopped worrying about people riding without helmets
> when I ran statistics on emergency rooms as part of my job
> for more than a year and found that, anecdotal 'evidence'
> from everyone from victims to emergency room professionals
> aside, bicycling accidents are not a driving force in
> serious long-term injury and disability or death. Totally
> insignificant on morbidity, minor on serious accidents.
> Period. If someone wants to ride without a helmet, I don't
> feel compelled to scream something about them paying their
> own way. I know that as far as at least five major
> insurance companies are concerned , it isn't an billing
> issue, not even a penny. So I'm not paying for their
> insurance because it isn't a factor. Isn't even a
> capitation factor.
>
> Basically - it means its their business until you solve
> issues like AIDS, diabetes, asthma, hypertension, auto
> accidents, drinking, well, the list goes on. These drive
> insurance costs, not the very occasional long-term care
> patient from bicycling.
>
> Curtis L. Russell Odenton, MD (USA) Just someone on
> two wheels... With a son that gave up cycling and took
> up skateboarding. Is it a requirement that they fall
> face first?