does working in ER make you want motorcylehelmets mandatory

Specialties Emergency

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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

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...

Ah, then let's outlaw smoking, since it can cause so much harm to a family when they lose a loved one to COPD. Let's outlaw drinking completely, in case someone drunk drives. And let's DEFINITELY outlaw having s*x, because sexually transmitted diseases can kill.

You have to balance lives saved with personal liberties.

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Ah, then let's outlaw smoking, since it can cause so much harm to a family when they lose a loved one to COPD. Let's outlaw drinking completely, in case someone drunk drives. And let's DEFINITELY outlaw having s*x, because sexually transmitted diseases can kill.

You have to balance lives saved with personal liberties.

Wow....

I was compairing two similar things...seatbelts and helmets...saftey devices intended for use while operating a motor vehicle.

You'll notice that I said that you can't outlaw stupidity... :rolleyes:

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Wow....

I was compairing two similar things...seatbelts and helmets...saftey devices intended for use while operating a motor vehicle.

You'll notice that I said that you can't outlaw stupidity... :rolleyes:

That's right, you can't. The question is whether you should legislate behavior. Those safety devices are lifesaving. No question. And I am a firm believer in both of them. I'm close to fanatical about car seat issues with kids, and am a firm believer in helmets.

But to force a person to use them because we think we know better for them than they do for themselves is a tough one for me.

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Here in Kentucky you must wear a helmet at all times unless you show proof of health insurance at the clerks offiice and for a three dollar fee, you may ride without a helmet but you must maintain health insurance coverage at all times and be at least 21 years of age. I guess this is so that the state doesn't have to pay for you to slowly die in a nursing home on a ventilator and tube feeding as a quadruple amputee.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I too live in Illinois where there is no helmet law. I work in a level one trauma center and I do pre-hospital care with my rural EMS/fire dept. Personally, I think helmets do save lives. They also prevent some injuries that result in severe head trauma. I think it is society's responsibility to legislate that basic safety restraints (seat belts and helmets) be worn. It sure would help cut the costs of caring for these people long term. Most wind up in nursing homes or being cared for at home for many, many years.

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That's right, you can't. The question is whether you should legislate behavior. ...to force a person to use them because we think we know better for them than they do for themselves is a tough one for me.

Individual rights vs. society's benefit. When the effects are lower mortality rates and fewer traumatic brain injuries at the individual level and economic benefit (lost workers/hours for pt and family, etc) and lower health care costs at the societal level?

If legislation is the only thing that makes someone put on a helmet or a seat belt, then fine. Legislate it. The benefits out weigh so call tromping on 'individual rights'.

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Specializes in ER.
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:

.

:yeahthat:

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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...

Arizona does not require helmets. :o

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Individual rights vs. society's benefit. When the effects are lower mortality rates and fewer traumatic brain injuries at the individual level and economic benefit (lost workers/hours for pt and family, etc) and lower health care costs at the societal level?

If legislation is the only thing that makes someone put on a helmet or a seat belt, then fine. Legislate it. The benefits out weigh so call tromping on 'individual rights'.

Like Canada, Australia has compulsory helmet laws not only for motor bikes, but push bikes as well. This has been the case for at least 15yrs. I know when I worked in the Northern Territory 20yrs ago, this wasn't the case and the cost of transporting HI pts out of the territory was phenominal.

I have seen police pull over push bike riders for not wearing helmets and if I every see my kids without theirs, they loose their bike for a period of time. It's only happened once so far - they learn quicky.

It may be a personal choice as voiced by some to wear or not to wear, but then does it become a personal choice to treat or not to treat?

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Like Canada, Australia has compulsory helmet laws not only for motor bikes, but push bikes as well. This has been the case for at least 15yrs. I know when I worked in the Northern Territory 20yrs ago, this wasn't the case and the cost of transporting HI pts out of the territory was phenominal.

I have seen police pull over push bike riders for not wearing helmets and if I every see my kids without theirs, they loose their bike for a period of time. It's only happened once so far - they learn quicky.

It may be a personal choice as voiced by some to wear or not to wear, but then does it become a personal choice to treat or not to treat?

You mean for a nurse and/or physician to refuse to treat because the individual in question did not have a helmet on? You are kidding, yes??

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It's true that we must protect our personal freedoms, but every freedom carries an equal responsibility. Just because I have freedom of speech, it does not give me the right to enter a crowded theater and yell "FIRE" at the top of my lungs, when none exists, without some type of consequence. If some one wants to exercise the freedom to not wear a helmet, then he has a responsibility to protect others from the consequence of his choice. To insure that others will not have to bear the emotional or financial cost of an extended rehab, the non helmet wearer should have sufficient health and life insurance to protect his loved ones and should carry with him at all times an organ donor card along with a DNR directive. He still has the freedom of choice, without taking away the rights of his family to not be burdened with a lifetime invalid or mounting medical bills, or the local hospital to be paid for their services, or the taxpayers who will help to defray the cost of emergency services. I'm willing to bet that not all non helmet wearers have voluntarily taken on those responsibilities, so what's wrong with a little legislation to remind them?

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It's true that we must protect our personal freedoms, but every freedom carries an equal responsibility. Just because I have freedom of speech, it does not give me the right to enter a crowded theater and yell "FIRE" at the top of my lungs, when none exists, without some type of consequence. If some one wants to exercise the freedom to not wear a helmet, then he has a responsibility to protect others from the consequence of his choice. To insure that others will not have to bear the emotional or financial cost of an extended rehab, the non helmet wearer should have sufficient health and life insurance to protect his loved ones and should carry with him at all times an organ donor card along with a DNR directive. He still has the freedom of choice, without taking away the rights of his family to not be burdened with a lifetime invalid or mounting medical bills, or the local hospital to be paid for their services, or the taxpayers who will help to defray the cost of emergency services. I'm willing to bet that not all non helmet wearers have voluntarily taken on those responsibilities, so what's wrong with a little legislation to remind them?

:yeahthat:

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