Do you wear your seatbelt

[Iam46yearsold]

After all these years in the ER, I have worked with so many ER docs, Nurses, Techs, etc. And I have seen so amny not wear their seat belts, and helmets. Do we as ER nurses think we are immune to all of this. Do we become complacent. Do we become jaded or what. Seriously though. So many really do not use their seat belts.

For the record I wear mine. I also wear a helmet on my motorcycle.

[Displaced]

"I have never had to unbuckle a fatality, but every wreck where the occupant was ejected was a fatality."

Officer from the Major Accidents Unit

[vamedic4, EMT-P]

"I have never had to unbuckle a fatality, but every wreck where the occupant was ejected was a fatality."

Officer from the Major Accidents Unit

I can personally say the same thing. And everyone I've come across who was partially ejected either was deceased at the scene or died in the hospital.

[jode]

Of course. Not only does it make sense, it is the law.

[gagirl1124]

Always. I was in an accident a couple of years ago from falling asleep at the wheel. I flipped my car and landed on theother side of the highway and the paramedics and doctors both told the seatbelt saved my life. I was a casual eawearere until then but not anymore.

[Atheos]

Why do these threads always turn into cheerleading contests??? *SNORT*

[RNDreamer]

yes, I wear a seatbeat. I automatically put it on as soon as I get in the car.

[lpnstudentin2010, LPN]

It is the law here in CA. They can pull you over if you don't have one on. Is it the law where you live??

i am in MA and it is the law but it is a low level offense meaning they can not pull you over for that but can bite you in the hiney if you are pulled over for another reason and they notice it

[edisongirl25]

I can personally say the same thing. And everyone I've come across who was partially ejected either was deceased at the scene or died in the hospital.

In the accident that killed my uncle and cousin on Thursday, there was a 3 year old boy that was ejected from the vehicle as it rolled. He was later found under the SUV...alive. He's still in the hospital, but he's alive...he's very lucky. Supposedly, he was buckled in, but it's unclear if he was buckled into a safety seat. Florida is a click it or ticket state, but sometimes it's not enforced enough. I've always been anal about seatbelts and car seats for babies and young children. My kids are 5 and almost 8 and still sit in booster seats. My daughter will be 8 on the 27th, but she's only about 53lbs....nowhere near the recommended 80lbs for seat belts.

[Babs0512]

Yes, after eight years in the ER, I ALWAYS wear my seat belt. Foolish not to.

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

Always, automatically before the car moves

[CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN]

I wear my seat belt in cars, bike helmet when biking. I'm not sure how I feel about motorcycle accidents. I'm registered as an organ donor, and I'm not too sure I'd really want to survive one of those accidents (everything but my head broken!)

Overall, I still think it should be a person's choice. But, if someone gets injured from making a "poor" choice (no seatbelt, smoking, etc), then I don't see why their medical bills should be paid for by anyone but themselves (no insurance). With rights come responsibility. For some reason, I don't think my theory would ever become a law.

[JohnBearPA]

I wear my seatbelt in my truck or in someone elses car all of the time, but I'll ride a motorcycle w/o a helmet as long as I'm driving the bike. If i'm a passenger, i wear a helmet. I do enjoy the feeling of the wind on my face and thru what's left of my hair. I condone this to myself because i really can't see me having any quality of life after a bad m/c accident, so I doubt i'd want to live thru it. a motor vehicle accident on the other hand, i could live thru w a seatbelt and continue to be productive.