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While on a family reunion in Wisconsin last week, I noticed that about 3/4ths of the motorcylists were driving around not wearing helmets. My Wisconsin relatives advised me the helmet law was repealed years ago. Oregon is a state where helmets are mandatory for motorcycle users.
Years ago, the vice-principal of my elementary school was involved in a car-bicycle accident. A car went through a stop sign and she crashed into the car. She was thrown from her bicycle and her head crashed into the left support beam holding the car's windshield in place.
Fortunately, she was wearing a helmet. She did suffer a broken leg, and scratches, but did not receive a head or neck injury. The paramedics fastened her head and still-attached helmet to a wooden backboard.
At the hospital, the attending physician pointed to the crack down the front of her bike helmet and stated the helmet probably saved her life. A blow that hard on her exposed skull may have killed her.
Months later, we had a school assembly. This woman talked to the students about her experience and showed her helmet with the extended crack. She put that helmet on the floor and placed her brand new helmet next to it. The new helmet was the exact model and make of the original helmet.
She then brought out a hammer, and with full force, struck the new helmet. Despite the blow from the hammer, the new helmet did not crack!
Picking up both helmets, she said, "The blow to my head in my accident with a care was stronger than the blow to the new helmet from my hammer. Do you really want to ride your bikes while not wearing a helmet?"
The audience was very quiet. I'm a cyclist myself and I was impressed.
Most motorcycle helmets have harder shells and more padding than a bicycle helmet. I can't imagine riding a motorcycle while not wearing a helmet.
Years ago, the vice-principal of my elementary school was involved in a car-bicycle accident. A car went through a stop sign and she crashed into the car. She was thrown from her bicycle and her head crashed into the left support beam holding the car's windshield in place.
Fortunately, she was wearing a helmet. She did suffer a broken leg, and scratches, but did not receive a head or neck injury. The paramedics fastened her head and still-attached helmet to a wooden backboard.
At the hospital, the attending physician pointed to the crack down the front of her bike helmet and stated the helmet probably saved her life. A blow that hard on her exposed skull may have killed her.
Months later, we had a school assembly. This woman talked to the students about her experience and showed her helmet with the extended crack. She put that helmet on the floor and placed her brand new helmet next to it. The new helmet was the exact model and make of the original helmet.
She then brought out a hammer, and with full force, struck the new helmet. Despite the blow from the hammer, the new helmet did not crack!
Picking up both helmets, she said, "The blow to my head in my accident with a care was stronger than the blow to the new helmet from my hammer. Do you really want to ride your bikes while not wearing a helmet?"
The audience was very quiet. I'm a cyclist myself and I was impressed.
Most motorcycle helmets have harder shells and more padding than a bicycle helmet. I can't imagine riding a motorcycle while not wearing a helmet.
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