does working in ER make you want motorcylehelmets mandatory

ascnbe, ADN, RN · Jul 22, 2005

I have been an ER nurse in a level 1 trauma center for 10 years. I keep track of motorcycle trauma because I have also been a motorcycle rider for 40 years. I have been in a couple accidents myself, one left me in a wheelchair for 3 months and off work for a year. I was wearing a helmet when my head went through the windshield of the car, it was pulled off when my head came out. My head injury occurred in the ensuing 65 foot trip to a stop on the highway. I was doing the speed limit. A 17 year old ran a stop sign when I was 30 feet from him, with my headlight on to make me visible. (ironic part was I was only home 3 weeks after an injury free 1 1/2 years in Viet Nam) I think the helmet saved my life. I also think from my experiences as a rider and a nurse that I was the exception. I think helmets are good to wear, but they just are not as big a factor as everyone wants to believe. I have seen numerous accidents because the helmet blocked view, or sound. I had one friend crash because a bee got in his helmet. By far, the majority of fatal injuries are multi trauma and many helmets are found on a broken neck or body.

I just don't think the government should decide seatbelts, helmuts, etc. If you make the choice to ride without them, just don't whine when things go bad. That is the real issue. "Adults" that want to take the risk, then don't want to accept the result of that gamble. Maybe the government should pass a law requiring us to wear condoms, then we could save all that money spent on caring for aids patients. Better yet, they could mandate sterilization for people known to carry debilitating genetic defects. The amount of money required to care for their offspring is astronomical.

I think everyone who so desires should buckle up, or put on their helmet and let everyone else choose their destiny. That is what freedom means.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jul 22, 2005

If you make the choice to ride without them, just don't whine when things go bad. That is the real issue. "Adults" that want to take the risk, then don't want to accept the result of that gamble.

I completely agree.

broke1 · Jul 22, 2005

Anyone that jumps out of a plane freefalling at 90MPH + for no reason other than the thrill of it or run down the street IN FRONT OF charging bulls has no right to say anything about anyone else's choices in life. The funny thing is, skydivers have the choice to wear a helmet or not. If you are a supporter of helmet laws, surely you believe jumping from a plane is an activity that must require mandated helmet useage. The reason it's not mandated is because the helmet would only push your teeth further into the ground should your shute fail, making it harder to identify you by your dental records.

By the way, any statistic that says 100% of anything is most likely 100% BS.

Our trauma chief said at a conference earlier this year... 'I've done a lot of stupid things; I've jumped out of airplanes, gone deep sea diving, worked with live electrical lines, even ran with the bulls in Spain, but I'll never, ever get on a motorcycle. People who ride motorcycles are my job security.'
I'm not sure helmets really do that much anyway. Seems to me if something goes wrong at 60+ on a bike trauma to other parts of your body will kill you even if your brain is slightly protected. I've also heard the statistic that 100% of motorcycle riders are in an accident every year - and if one doesn't have an accident in a given year, another will have two. I agree however, that this is the land where freedom of choice typically overrules controlling laws. As you see in anti-terror actions that are being implemented around the world, however, we are still trying to manipulate our ethics to find a balance between choice and the greater good.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jul 22, 2005

Anyone that jumps out of a plane freefalling at 90MPH + for no reason other than the thrill of it or run down the street IN FRONT OF charging bulls has no right to say anything about anyone else's choices in life.

Yeah, i thought that was weird myself lol.

MrsWampthang, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2005

The motorcycle fatalities we have had at our hospital mostly came from the neighboring county where windy roads are the rule rather than the exception. A couple of times there were more than one fatality per accident. In all cases, helmets wouldn't have mattered. These riders were hit while zipping in and out of traffic and into oncoming traffic. No kind of helmet is going to prevent a body from flying through the air and hitting the ground at 70mph. That said, I took care of a rider recently that got away with only severe road rash to his arm, he hit gravel, slid and left half his skin on the road. He was only wearing a tank top and blue jeans I believe. I can't remember if he said he was wearing a helmet or not. I just remember that he was in for some very extensive and long wound care therapy.

I guess my point is the same as other folks here, I think helmets are good, but I'm kind of on the fence about how many lives they actually save though. I have mixed feelings about taking away someone's freedom of choice. I admit I never wore a helmet when riding a bicycle as a kid, and don't make my son wear one now except when he rides to school. I used to ride all over my county on my bike with no helmet. Guess I was lucky, I don't have any brain damaging injuries from it. HMMMMMM, well, there was that time I plowed into my dad's car when I tried to stop my ten speed in the rain. (car doors don't have much give! :rotfl: ) Maybe that's why I went into nursing! :chuckle (TBI :rotfl: )

As for what I wish was mandatory, frankly I wish they would make sterilization mandatory if you could prove how shallow the gene pool was that the individual came from! :rotfl: But.....lets not go there! :rotfl:

Pam

CTSCOUT · Jul 24, 2005

:nurse:

i worked the ER for 17 years and i found that

motorcyclists not wearing helmets serves two purposes...first, in an evolutionary way, they often don't survive long enough to pass on the "stupid" genes to the next generation of riders, and second...lord knows we need the doners.

EdieBrous, BSN, MSN · Jul 25, 2005

Have you also heard the statistic that more than 90% of bikers who are seriously hurt or injured have not been through a Motorcycle Safety Foundation safe rider course? Or the statistic that 70% of motorcycle injuries are to the head? Helmets do make a difference. But training is the best safety feature.

mandrews · Jul 25, 2005

My first peds clinical was in the ER at a Childrens Hospital. A mother put her 12 year old son who had the worst case of crippling MS I have ever seen on a three wheeler and took him on a fast ride on the highway and flipped.

They were both med-flighted from another state and to different hospitals.

This child was traumatized, roaring road rash, worried about mom, unstable, scared of xray, and the father and grandfather had to make a 6 hour drive to reach him and all he understood was being alone and scared.

melissa

ascnbe, ADN, RN · Jul 25, 2005

Have you also heard the statistic that more than 90% of bikers who are seriously hurt or injured have not been through a Motorcycle Safety Foundation safe rider course? Or the statistic that 70% of motorcycle injuries are to the head? Helmets do make a difference. But training is the best safety feature.

I find the 70% thing to be cloudy. Check with ABATE. they track motorcycle injuries. If my son were riding a motorcycle, which I have been succussful so far in preventing, I would want him to wear a helmet and protective clothing. Many of the injuries I have seen that were not serious (low speed) could have been prevented or reduced had the riders worn helmets and leathers. The high speed collisions are beyond those precautions. Again, I don't judge another individuals choice of adrenalin fix. If you can legally climb a mountain, jump out of a perfectly good airplane, or work in an urban trauma center, you are entitled to the death or dismemberment of your choice. I don't dispute the intelligence of the choice, merely the ability to make it without someone one deciding to be my mommy. I have a hard enough time keeping myself out of trouble without feeling the need to decide how the guy next to me should live. There are numerous intelligent individuals doing dangerous things and loving it. I say go for it, run with scissors, just don't cry when someone gets their eye poked out. We have been warned about that since we were toddlers.

redwinggirlie · Jul 25, 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

Doesn't matter where I work... or, where I ride. Helmets, always.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2005

i worked the ER for 17 years and i found that
motorcyclists not wearing helmets serves two purposes...first, in an evolutionary way, they often don't survive long enough to pass on the "stupid" genes to the next generation of riders, and second...lord knows we need the doners.

Darwin in action.

EdieBrous, BSN, MSN · Jul 25, 2005

Most motorcycle fatalities are from head injuries. The 70% comes from NHSTA and the DOH. And most accidents can be prevented with rider training.

I find the 70% thing to be cloudy. Check with ABATE. they track motorcycle injuries. If my son were riding a motorcycle, which I have been succussful so far in preventing, I would want him to wear a helmet and protective clothing. Many of the injuries I have seen that were not serious (low speed) could have been prevented or reduced had the riders worn helmets and leathers. The high speed collisions are beyond those precautions. Again, I don't judge another individuals choice of adrenalin fix. If you can legally climb a mountain, jump out of a perfectly good airplane, or work in an urban trauma center, you are entitled to the death or dismemberment of your choice. I don't dispute the intelligence of the choice, merely the ability to make it without someone one deciding to be my mommy. I have a hard enough time keeping myself out of trouble without feeling the need to decide how the guy next to me should live. There are numerous intelligent individuals doing dangerous things and loving it. I say go for it, run with scissors, just don't cry when someone gets their eye poked out. We have been warned about that since we were toddlers.