I have a serious question for any motorcycle lovers that ride and dont wear helmets... WHY?? I have today, for what seems like the millionth time, had to watch someone die and a familys life destroyed b/c this person chose not to wear a helmet on his bike and flew headfirst into a wind shield. The Pt's brain was soooo swollen they couldnt even get the bone flap back on, or stich the dura back together....there was brain everywhere! Out the nose and Ears.. And then the pt's off the OR table only to die in PACU with a waiting room FULL of screaming crying family members..
I am not judging anyone, but rather trying to understand why someone would make the choice to not wear a helmet. Is it the feeling of freedom, or does the helmet restrict your head that much as to the point of discomfort?
Specializes in L&D, peds NN, and recently outpatient..
Yea, my hubby and I are friends with another married couple. They are funeral directors, and embalmers. Point being, when ever we go out with them and we see someone on a motorcycle, helmet or NOT, they say "there goes an organ donor. " They see it ALL the time. BYW, they are so much fun, you would never know they are in the funeral business, unless you asked.
I'm very safety conscious. But at the same time I hardly ever wear my seat belt and I never wear a helmet when I ride. For me its an individual choice that I don't feel comfortable with the helmets I've tried in the past. Full facials restrict my vision enough that I don't like them and the others just don't feel right to me. I live in a state that doesn't require them so I don't.
You think you're safety conscious but you hardly ever wear a seat belt?
Wow....
Suicide is a "individual choice" too, and yet quite the selfish act.
Specializes in L&D, peds NN, and recently outpatient..
UMMMM, I have to agree. Choice or not. I would not call myself safely conscious if I hardly ever wore a seatbelt.
It's the same thing I see all the time in the summer......really daily:
adults riding kids on lawnmowers. OMG!!!! I have seen two really bad injuies from this, not to mention tractor rides. You can NOT legislate common sense.
I frankly don't care if folks don't wear helmets for motorcycles and/or bikes. However, when they get their head injury, can't work, need to live in a nursing home or have 24/7 care, they don't need government Medicaid or disability either!
I agree with that point. If the government pays for your care, then the government has an increased interest in making you do what is needed to lower their costs. They hold the money; they get to make the decisions. All the decisions. This is one of the main reasons why I believe the government shouldn't be involved with health care (or most things) in the first place.
Maybe if people didn't have the government catch them when they fall, they would start using their heads instead of slamming them into the asphalt without a second thought. Individual responsibility is key here. Wear a helmet or not, I don't care. If you end up with a traumatic brain injury that could have been prevented with the use of a helmet, guess what? You chose not to wear it. Deal with it.
I honestly don't understand the need for grown adults to have the government 'parent' them.
With that rationale, you might also see the government banning certain foods and lifestyles. Maybe the government should ban unprotected sex? I'm personally not against helmut laws, but mention that as another slant on that argument. Maybe they should ban motorcycles altogether? Riding one is pretty much inherently dangerous.
I honestly don't understand the need for grown adults to have the government 'parent' them.
In the best of world the government shouldn't have to parent people. Individuals and organizations should do what's right, safe and best for society naturally. But there are stupid, greedy, selfish people that need some laws to live by.
In the best of world the government shouldn't have to parent people. Individuals and organizations should do what's right, safe and best for society naturally. But there are stupid, greedy, selfish people that need some laws to live by.
Laws are one thing, arbitrary laws that infringe on personal freedoms are a completely different matter. I'm not going to give up my ability to think for myself and make my own choices just because some dude on a bike didn't wear his helmet.
Overall, we have a choice to be stupid, greedy, or selfish. We also have a choice to be smart, charitable, or selfless. This is what makes us human. You have a choice and you make a decision. You use your brain! Why is everyone so eager hand the wheel over to someone else?
I'd also like to point out that most people in politics seem to fall in one of the three categories (stupid, greedy, selfish) you pointed out. They make some of these laws you seem to be in favor of.
Laws are one thing, arbitrary laws that infringe on personal freedoms are a completely different matter. I'm not going to give up my ability to think for myself and make my own choices just because some dude on a bike didn't wear his helmet.
Overall, we have a choice to be stupid, greedy, or selfish. We also have a choice to be smart, charitable, or selfless. This is what makes us human. You have a choice and you make a decision. You use your brain! Why is everyone so eager hand the wheel over to someone else?
I'd also like to point out that most people in politics seem to fall in one of the three categories (stupid, greedy, selfish) you pointed out. They make some of these laws you seem to be in favor of.
This is the time we agree to disagree. We're not going to convince one another there should or should not be a helmut law.
I agree with your assessment of politicians however. Yes, we have a right to be stupid, greedy and selfish.
With that rationale, you might also see the government banning certain foods and lifestyles. Maybe the government should ban unprotected sex? I'm personally not against helmut laws, but mention that as another slant on that argument. Maybe they should ban motorcycles altogether? Riding one is pretty much inherently dangerous.
I appreciate what you are saying that it is difficult to draw the lines.
New York City has banned transfats in it's kitchens. The government has mandated that cereal, pasta, milk and all other kinds of foods be fortified.
There have been helmut and seatbelt laws for decades without further infringements on freedom to chose in other areas.
On the other hand we've gone the other direction and it's only been this past decade that what people do in their bedroooms and sodomy laws have been repealed by the Supreme Court. Chalk one up for freedom.
Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.
I would NEVER ride a motorcycle without a helmet. NE-VERRRR, even if I was just going to run up to the grocery store!
Furthermore, I am planning on, in the next couple of days, buying my little girl a new bicycle. She'll be getting a helmet to wear with that shiny new bike. Do any of the kids around here wear helmets? Nope. Will she get made fun of? Probably. Will she take her helmet off? Not if she wants to keep the bike!
Laws are one thing, arbitrary laws that infringe on personal freedoms are a completely different matter. I'm not going to give up my ability to think for myself and make my own choices just because some dude on a bike didn't wear his helmet...
Exactly...
The "some dudes" in life ruin things for all...
There was a day when one could drink an ice cold botttle of beer at the ballgame...But "some dude" decided to get too drunk and throw his bottle onto the field...Now we get the plastic cups...
I grew up on 3 wheelers (pre quad/atv), but too many "dudes" rode drunk or rode without knowing what they were doing, and 3 wheelers were outlawed...
I like to make my own choices, not have uncle sam make them for me...
junebug62
68 Posts
Yea, my hubby and I are friends with another married couple. They are funeral directors, and embalmers. Point being, when ever we go out with them and we see someone on a motorcycle, helmet or NOT, they say "there goes an organ donor. " They see it ALL the time. BYW, they are so much fun, you would never know they are in the funeral business, unless you asked.