No wimps, please

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | Saturday, June 21, 2003 | editorial

[PayrollOffice]

Here in Canada, our socialized medical system does not cover injuries from motor vehicle accidents.

You've GOT to be kidding.

[spunkets]

Nice post.

I thought Mensa was a group of those affected with PMS before.

[Jeff Gordon]

Those under 21 are not mature enough to responsibly court early death or disability.

Yet they are mature enough to serve and die in our Armed Forces?

[spunkets]

I also wacked a deer. It was on the hwy. I just got up to 70 after leaving the rifle range and leaned back to shuffle things and get comfortable. Then out of the night sky flew a deer that was headed to pplop down right in front of me. I steered to where he wasn't going to be in a few millisecs, but the dummy reigned in and slowed, turning his head to watch me hit him in the ass. I did, after I straightened the bike up and set to impact him.

After the light disappeared into the fur a rather large head shake developed. After it damped out, the bike was running at an steep angle and falling slowly. There wasn't enough power to pull out of it and no room also. So I abandoned ship. It was a long slide through the darkness. From the sound, I thought only half a bike would be found, the other half would have been shaved off. It was OK, except for a dent in the tank, a scuffed bag and the clutch handle bar assy/mirror on the left side was all dangling. Lots of stones and dirt stuffed all over, since it came to rest off the road. The rifle was fine and the ammo didn't explode. LOL...

As soon as I got up I headed back to find him and beat on him. He was long gone-LOL! My right thumb was also dislocated, probably on impact. It was stuck up over my hand, under the skin. I figured if I went to the docs it would save me the trouble of having to fix it myself, so I did. Saving the long story, I ended up fixing it myself. It works fine now.

I was wearing a helmet, because it was in the '30s. There were no marks on it though. It never hit the pavement. That's what I planned in the dive, else my face would have been scuffed like my jacket. Some folks think driving in the country is w/o risk of crazies. That's not true of course. It's either 'coons, deer, owls challenging you for road kill...ect.

I hope your healing goes well and there's no lingering affects. It does take 9-12 months for those sinews to heal. they should be limbered after 3-4 months, but no, or little load applied, or they'll tear again. Limbering them keeps them from healing up tight with scar tissue. Unflavored geletin and glucoseamine/chondrotin are foods, that will allow building and repairing the sinew and cartilage.

[spunkets]

"wind noise"

Drowns out those sirens.

[TopDog2]

Glad you are ok. I think my thumb got dislocated on impact too. I was grabbing so much brake, I'm surprised I didn't dislocate my whole arm! ;-)

[rockfish59]

The 'coconuts' are all driving SUV's with cell phones stuck to their heads.
I love it when idiots like Evel Knievel (and his brother Awful Knawful) tell everyone to wear a helmet.
Let those who ride decide (In your dreams)
I suggest moving to New Hampshire.

[goodnesswins]

Well, I actually ask the question "tongue in cheek".....but, it is interesting that they will allow someone on the street in/on a vehicle that offers little to NO protection, and then demand that the rest of us "protected during a crash" have to wear seat belts...

[Beaker]

I for one have been riding motorcycles since I was three years old. My first ride was on my father's panhead. I went on my first motorcycle run when I was 11, as it was the only thing that I wanted to do for my birthday. I can say from experience that not wearing a helmet is a really stupid thing to do. While I will agree that some high velocity crashes render a helemt nearly useless, they have saved lives, and are quite worth it. And yes, some will argue that they block sound, and can prevent a motorcyclist from hearing things that come up around them. But one night my dad had a pretty bad crash. It was raining and the roads were slick. Well, he destroyed his bike and broke more bones than I care to remember. But he didn't break his skull, and the helmet is the only reason he's here today. Jeans and boots are essential to wear on a bike, as road rash is a bad bad thing, not to mention tail pipes can put pretty nasty burns on your feet. (Believe me, I know) Safety glasses are excellent, as I don't know about you, but I can't keep my eyes open in the wind. I always cringe when I see someone on a bike in shorts a tank top and sandles. And you know, you're also right in the fact that adults can make their own decisions, but there's using your head, and then there's using your head.
As for bicycle helmets? You've got me.

[Squawk 8888]

Injuries from traffic accidents are covered by auto insurance, workplace injuries are covered by Workers Comp, drugs are covered privately.

[Blue Jays]

Good Evening All-

Originally posted by Beaker: ...Well, he destroyed his bike and broke more bones than I care to remember. But he didn't break his skull, and the helmet is the only reason he's here today...

********************

Glad to hear that your father came out of the accident OK.

The other thing that people discount is that aside from the obvious protection, a high-quality, full-face helmet looks very cool! My coordinating Arai Quantum/F and Arai RX7-RR helmets (depending on my mood) are beyond sharp.

Been riding sportbikes for more than a decade and dirtbikes even longer. A helmet and earplugs preserves your hearing and allows you to survive things that could typically kill a motorcyclist. In one memorable situation, I hit a small bird at highway speed that splattered blood, guts, feathers, and bones onto my helmet just above the visor. This same small bird would have EASILY swept an unprotected rider right off his motorcycle...no doubt about it.

This is a very interesting thread. Everyone who thinks riding without a helmet is "safer" can keep trying to delude themselves. We don't need mandatory laws, but if you're helmetless, you shouldn't expect the government to bail you out of an unfortunate situation...

~ Blue Jays ~

[Quix]

But they do protect depending--and usually the depending is within the designed parameters to at least make the resulting injuries less life threatening.

In many cases, it is the taxpayers who pay for brain surgery and upkeep because the individuals and families can't.

I prefer freedom and wind in the hair etc. too.

But there are enough needs for taxes without adding unnecessarily such a great burden on so many.

Besides, in a lot of ways, it's a selfish, rebellious kind of freedom. Like--I'll go suck rocks and crack my skull if I want Mom--and then you can cry your heart out, lose the family home and spend countless sleepless nights while I'm in a coma.

Real freedom that.

For whom?

---

I was very thankful when Taiwan mandated it and then made the law stick by stiff enforcement. Public expense for all kinds of expensive head injuries associated with such went down dramatically.

And a lot of mothers attended a lot of graduations they wouldn't have otherwise.

SOME minor inconveniences and slight decreases in 'freedom' are more than reasonable. They are sane.