you are 100% correct. It would be nice if helmets for motorcycle riders and bicycle riders become more the norm and not the exception. It is clear that they save lives and reduce injury. (I wrote a piece on motorcycle safety.)

Here’s that picture that you referenced –

Great picture for safety.

thanks for your thoughtful comments.

I’m not sure that you can categorize dramatic brain injured patients as infinitely or was it exponentially less likely to seek medical care. It is clear that some of them are not thinking clearly and therefore don’t seek medical care.

I’m glad you’re better.

Thanks for your comments

I have no idea. I’ve never been skiing. it is clear that helmets help but they’re not perfect.

Thanks for your comments.

thanks for your thoughts. I appreciate them.

Re: Helmets. Maybe it will be good to raise some awareness.

Head injuries are nothing to mess around with. When I was a little kid, my Mom’s friend had a small boy who fell down the stairs. He was a little dazed for a few minutes, but seemed to be okay. Then he died from the injury. Because of that, Mom knew enough to take us kids to the ER if we hit our heads, like the time my little brother fell off a shelf. The hospital kept him overnight for observation, just in case.

When I was walking to the office one winter day a few years ago, I fell flat on my back and hit the back of my head really good. The next evening, I came down with severe nausea and headache. So over to the ER I went. I got my head examined, and fortunately, got a clean bill of health.

What I hope to see is a push by the neuro and rehab communities about wearing helmets. I’ve been appalled at how many blog comments have insisted that ‘no one wears a helmet when skiing’. The competitors do, but apparently they don’t count.

My 29 and 24 year old kids grew up being the only ones on the block who had to wear bike helmets. They wear them still, for motorcycles, snowboarding and anything else that means their bodies are moving faster than walking speed.

Which should explain one of my favorite pics from the campaign – and Obama’s very conscious decision to set the example.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/obamas-helmet-moment/

I have firsthand experience with a TBIs. I too initially refused medical treatment. It’s no exaggeration to say I’m lucky to alive (tho’ I do have a seizure disorder & other health problems as a result). This easily could have been my story.

What a shame. My thoughts are with her family.

-AF

She was learning to ski! Don’t (at least)

beginning skiers wear safety helmets?

There is a misperception in the public that everyone with a head injury just keels over and collapses, that’s not the case. I admitted a guy just couple weeks ago who was hit in the head repeatedly with a bat and he came to the hospital at little sleepy He had a subarachnoid hemorrhage.in that same vein that took care of a lady who was in her mid-80s she had fallen over a month ago she a large subdural hemorrhage on both sides of her brain but did not present until four weeks after the incident.

Thanks for your comments.

This was most likely what it seems. A head injury. Sorry about your friend.

Thanks for your input.

You are right. This type of event does occur every day. If we think back something similar happened to one of the Kennedy’s and to Sonny Bono. Yet, no new research or funding.

Thanks for your thoughts.

My heart is broken for Ms. Richardson’s children and husband. This is a terrible loss.

aimai