does working in ER make you want motorcylehelmets mandatory

z's playa · Jul 18, 2005

I'm sorry you had to witness that. It truly is horrific isn't it?

Maybe you could start a petiiton and send it to your member of Congress (or whoever it is you write to in the US :) ) to get helmet wearing mandatory?

Z

pickledpepperRN · Jul 18, 2005

Caring for head injured patients in the ICU compelled me to get active working for a helmet law. The Emergency Nurses Association and the California Nurses association worked together to lobby for the law. Three of us from my hospital educated our local state officials. First their staffs, then them. We got our colleagues to write letters. We had a phone call party to press the governor to sign it.

Stats show improved survival and less permanent disability after accidents in the years since it went into effect.

chicagrl72 · Jul 18, 2005

Caring for head injured patients in the ICU compelled me to get active working for a helmet law. The Emergency Nurses Association and the California Nurses association worked together to lobby for the law. Three of us from my hospital educated our local state officials. First their staffs, then them. We got our colleagues to write letters. We had a phone call party to press the governor to sign it.
Stats show improved survival and less permanent disability after accidents in the years since it went into effect.

SWEET that is great info!

mommatrauma, RN · Jul 18, 2005

Common sense makes me want to have a mandatory helmet law...but working in a level 1 trauma center certainly enforces my feelings on it...although, most of the accidents we see are not isolated head injuries, they are multi system trauma, so the helmet wouldn't have saved their lives...

pickledpepperRN · Jul 18, 2005

Since the mandatory helmet law went into effect in 1992 repeal legislation has been sponsored by the Motorcycle Dealers Association several times.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 18, 2005

just wondering
we witnessed a bad wreck during the toys for tots ride in november
it was horrifying
we live in a state where helmets are not mandatory
needless to say ...the guy died and he was not wearing a helmet
he was hit by a car

helmets are the law in my state, but,.....

yes, i so wish they would wear them. so many lives gone. so much pain and suffering. i just do not understand why they will not wear them.

i love my bike and would never think to mount it without a helmet.

siri crnp, clnc, rlnc

suzanne4, RN · Jul 18, 2005

Actually do quite a few transplants in Arizona because of their helmut law.

Great to see someone wearing shorts, sleeveless top, and flip flops on a bike.

And of course no helmut and no protection at all.

chicagrl72 · Jul 18, 2005

Common sense makes me want to have a mandatory helmet law...but working in a level 1 trauma center certainly enforces my feelings on it...although, most of the accidents we see are not isolated head injuries, they are multi system trauma, so the helmet wouldn't have saved their lives...

good point that life threatening /ending injuries were not necessarily head related

FrumDoula · Jul 18, 2005

I am very caught between knowing that helmets can save lives on one hand, and the personal liberties issue on the other. Not every personal decision needs to be legislated. Now, for KIDS riding 4-wheelers, that is another issue. If their parents are idiots, they shouldn't have to suffer. So I believe in mandatory laws then.

It's kinda the Darwin Theory to me - if you're dumb enough not to wear a helmet on a motorcycle, then perhaps you're dumb enough to be taken out of our little gene pool. :rolleyes:

Just a thought.

chicagrl72 · Jul 18, 2005

I am very caught between knowing that helmets can save lives on one hand, and the personal liberties issue on the other. Not every personal decision needs to be legislated. Now, for KIDS riding 4-wheelers, that is another issue. If their parents are idiots, they shouldn't have to suffer. So I believe in mandatory laws then.
It's kinda the Darwin Theory to me - if you're dumb enough not to wear a helmet on a motorcycle, then perhaps you're dumb enough to be taken out of our little gene pool.
Just a thought.

right on! i am a big advocate of people being able to do what they want and not letting gov regulate everything ..just want to put the post out there to see what ER nurses thought

thanks for your insight...

ps my cousins in rural america shoot guns and ride 4 wheelers...they will either be better at that kind of thing when they are older, more responsible perhaps or maybe not be around to pass on their "skills"

MacNurse · Jul 18, 2005

I am very caught between knowing that helmets can save lives on one hand, and the personal liberties issue on the other. Not every personal decision needs to be legislated. Now, for KIDS riding 4-wheelers, that is another issue. If their parents are idiots, they shouldn't have to suffer. So I believe in mandatory laws then.
It's kinda the Darwin Theory to me - if you're dumb enough not to wear a helmet on a motorcycle, then perhaps you're dumb enough to be taken out of our little gene pool.
Just a thought.

ACK! Are you kidding me?? There are places where you don't have to wear a helmet?!?!? :angryfire

Okay, you can't legislate aganist stupidity, and even if there is a law mandating it there will be morons that would not wear their helmets. I do realize that many of those injured will have multi-system trauma and wouldn't have made it regardless.

However, one could apply the same logic to seatbelts....no doubt they save lives....but I guess but that logic it would qualify as a personal decision... :rolleyes:

Regardless of ages and level of intelligence...no one and no family should have to suffer through a loss...

One live saved would be worth it...