Do you wear a seat belt?

Nurses General Nursing

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I know we sometimes feel like we need one at work, but I am talking about when you are in your (or someone else's) car? I was astounded years ago when I worked Trauma to discover that the Director of the program did not wear a seat belt. Granted the guy is convinced he is God in the flesh, but still!! I have always been a seat belt wearer and cannot fathom why people don't wear one. I can fathom even less when peole do not properly restrain their kids in cars!!

If you don't wear one, why not????

Specializes in LTC/Peds/ICU/PACU/CDI.

...didn't always wear one though :chair:. growing-up in philly most of my life, i noticed that city folks tend not to buckle-up because they're going on "short" errands or trips :rolleyes:.

since moving to & living here in south jersey from dec '1988, i always had to buckle-up. i'd mainly started as a deterrent from obtaining tickets in this highly regulated state, but since having been involved in a few major accidents, one in may '1992 as a passenger (& ended-up with a three-day hospital stay), & the other in nov '2001 as the driver, i know first hand just how important wearing seat belts are....even though they can be a little

annoying at times...it's just doesn't feel right to drive or ride in a vehicle without a seat belt anymore...i rather like that snuggled feeling that i get from the shoulder harness. ironically, both accidents occurred in philly...on regular side streets...& was struck by other vehicles either head on or broad sided from speeds varying from 40 to 55 mph (yes on side streets)...none of which were highway accidents though...thank god!!! and my mom use to talk about jersey drivers...geeeezzzzz...i think my philly folks are crazier than my jersey folks drivers. i've personally seen people traveling on the highways in philly at speeds that exceed :uhoh3: 90 mph...the speed limit on the city highways is only 50 mph!!! i never see anyone pulled over for speeding & reckless driving (dodging in & out of the lines) the way they do & getting away with it. you see, there's no pa state troopers patrolling the city highways...it's supposed to be done by philly police, but they're very busy patrolling the streets for crime.

one thing i noticed about us jersey drivers is that we are regulated to death in this state, but we sure as hell love to drive fast on our highways...everyone's a speed racer or cpt james t. kirk traveling at warp factor #9 or something...lol :lol2:!!! the average speed limit on our highway is either 55 or 65 mph...folks get away with doing anywhere between 70 to 80 mph before they're pulled over for speeding....ah but :nono: don't get caught in one of those sting operations where the nj state troopers or local police set-up those "traps" for vehicle registration, insurance, seat belt checks & alcohol test. get caught & you'll be :crying2: paying the piper out the yyyyaaaazzzzoooo for sure!!!

Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS

Seatbelts have saved my life TWICE! A head on collision at apx 80mph of combined speed with a drunk driver is NO time to find out whether a seat belt is worth wearing or not - Since I am sitting here typing, I am proof positive that it is is!

They had to cut me out of the car, and the crash was so violent that it was the seatbelt that broke my pelvis and ribs, but I shudder to think what I would be if I hadn't had it on.

I think the laws are justified because if you don't wear a seatbelt I have to pay for your medical care!!! Not the same in the US, but as long as we have universal healthcare here, I say people better buckle up!

I was rear-ended sitting at a stop light, leaning over into the floor board on the passenger side to pick something up. I had my seat belt on and it quickly snapped me upright, I banged my head on the back of my head rest. I didn't feel any pain at the scene, or right after....it was when I was going to bed and I went to lean back on my pillow. OW OW OW OW OW...man that hurt. I was trying to save myself some money by seeing my PCP instead of going to ER. I called to make an appointment and was denied care because they said I owed them money. What they failed to tell me was they re-billed for something they had already been paid for, and my insurance company denied it. I called my insurance company, Cigna HMO :rolleyes: and they told me what was going on. I was so mad at my PCPs office because I had to go to the ER. I had recently quit my job and was going to school full time, so $50 compared to $15 is alot. Actually, my car insurance paid for that, but still. I'm trying to leave my PCP, and will as soon as I come up with the money to buy my medical records.

Okay...this thread is really about seat belts. :idea: Sorry for going off on an tangent.

Specializes in OB, M/S, ICU, Neurosciences.

Years ago, I was the passenger in my car (my sister was driving) with my 2 kids and her daughter in the back seat. She exited the freeway and was slowing down to stop at the top of the ramp, turned around to say something to my son, and bumped the car in front of her. I was unrestrained and asleep in the passenger seat and went FLYING--hit the windshield with my head and cracked both it and my head wide open. No damage to either vehicle except where my head buckled the glass. I had a minor concussion, NASTY head lacs, and looked like a monster for a couple of weeks. Needless to say, I always buckle up, as do my passengers. :rolleyes:

Specializes in Trauma and Pediatrics.

Always.. always... the kids and I always do! as as well as any passenger in our car... Now my husband is another story! Mr. Tough Guy.. refuses to wear one.... I am waiting for the day he get's a ticket so I can say I told you so! Hopefully it will be a ticket and not an accident that we can't take back and say should of.. could of.... would of...

I too was never religious about seatbelts, until I got pregnant and had my son, who is now nine years old. The truck doesn't move until the seatbelts click.

Always buckle up, as a non-driver, I am mostly sitting eihter beside him/her on in the back and always put the belt on.

it isn't alowede here ot put children under 1.50 and 40 kg. in the front seat either, you need special children seats till that height/ weight too.

Helmets for everything on just 2 wheels and with a motor. It is the law and you pay a lot of money, when the police catches you.

I think it is right, as Fergus stated, we have the system here as in Canada, so I have to pay for those who don't wear their belts, helmets and put their children in danger.

take care, Renee

my mule won't budge without the ole harness in place. sure was glad of it last year when l had a head-on...poor car...lucky me.....other driver lucky considering no airbag, no sb...he was talking on the c-phone to a buddy in next car!......don't even get me started on that.......well, me and my mule gotta get on down the road to work.......lr

hey nursiepooh....are you sure you you're not from boston????????like driving in hell!!!:devil:

Yes, Always, it's like a security blanket..

;) :wink2:

marie

Specializes in critical care.

My aunt and uncle hydroplaned once and rolled their van three times. They were buckled up so they were totally fine. I have always worn my seatbelt, even in the backseat. But, I hate bicylce helmets and my husband insists that I wear one when I ride around in our residential neighborhood.

I didn't start wearing one until I was a passenger involved in a car accident when I was 18. Until then, I always just thought that I would be able to brace myself against the impact. WRONG!!! There is nothing you can do once the car is spinning out of control and you are flying around inside it.

Since then, I always wear a seatbelt, and so does anyone who wishes to ride as a passenger in my car. Children are always restrained in a corificeat.

I especially hate it when I see children unrestrained in a car, or a mom with a baby on her lap. Or even worse, a mom, with a baby on her lap and the seatbelt around both of them.

Sorry if I repeated what anyone else said in a previous post, I didn't have time to read through all of them.

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