WANTED: Cracked, Crashed, Smashed Helmets..

[smilingcat]

I wish I could tell you my last major accident but I can't. I have no memory of the day of the accident or the week or so in the hospital. Just flashes of what I think happened like a fleeting memory like a dream when you wake up.

The few thing I was told:

I was having a really bonked day of riding so I broke off the training ride. One of the guys from the "A" group came back after being called on the cell phone from our group. We rode our bikes back to the car and on the way back is when I crashed.

The paramedic in the ambulance called my home and told my partner that I kept on losing consciousness in the ambulance and told her that it was bad and to meet me at the hospital.

Other recollection is sort of dream like and don't know but I think I was wired up to some monitor and an alarm going off beep-beep-beep. The sound is something I sort of recall not sure... Then I sort of recall of being fussed over by people when I just wanted to sleep. Sort of remember it was dark like at night time... I just don't have any clear memory of my stay in the hospital or even the first few days home. In fact very little of my hospital stay. I do have one memory was the shock of realization that I had no short term memory and crying about it. Funny that's the only real thing I remember...

The cat scans I have no memory... I wish I could tell you my story but its not there. And even today after nearly 6 years, my memory isn't as good as it used to be. My short term memory is still a problem on occasion. Sometimes, I have to write a note or make a conscious effort to remember. Stupid things like 4 items I have to pick up at a grocery store...

I try not to dwell on what if it didn't happen. Only regret about the accident is I wish it didn't happen. I wish I was like before with near photographic memory and I wish ... but that is neither here nor there.

The only thing I want the kids to learn is that its called an accident for a reason. We don't plan on it. We don't think about such things. And boom out of no where it happens. It doesn't matter if you are beginner going slow or experienced rider going slow or fast. Accidents don't care who you are, it happens to ALL of us. It happens when you are not thinking about it.

Over the years, helmets have saved my life from downhill racing to cycling. I think its pretty cool to be wearing a helmet. BTW, wear a helmet and hit it really hard. You can't crack it. you can't dent it but on these crashes, the helmets crack, dent, and break into pieces. Think about what your head would have done in its place.

I threw away my crushed helmet and few other items from the accident. I have too too many reminders from not just this crash but from others as well.

I have been told to hang up my cleats by my neural surgeon but its hard. He told me that there will be no next time for me. I've used up 8 of my 9 lives. When you have 9 out of 9 lives left it doesn't seem like a big deal but when you are down to your last one. It is a big deal.

Anyway, I wish I could tell you the story but this is the best I could do. Talking about it makes me really sad...

I am a terrible writer so please re-write to make it readable.

thanks,
Shawn

PS it makes me really angry when people young and old don't wear a helmet!!
It save my life several times over and at least 6 of my friends.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I wish I could tell you my last major accident but I can't. I have no memory of the day of the accident or the week or so in the hospital. Just flashes of what I think happened like a fleeting memory like a dream when you wake up.
......................................
The only thing I want the kids to learn is that its called an accident for a reason. We don't plan on it. We don't think about such things. And boom out of no where it happens. It doesn't matter if you are beginner going slow or experienced rider going slow or fast. Accidents don't care who you are, it happens to ALL of us. It happens when you are not thinking about it.
......................................
PS it makes me really angry when people young and old don't wear a helmet!!
It save my life several times over and at least 6 of my friends.

Shawn -
You are so right about this. I don't know what happened to me either, and I've accepted that I will never know the cause of my accident.

Funny though, I had a discussion with someone I knew in passing (not a friend, just someone I had met), and she was sure that I should sue the town that the road was in. And I just can't accept that kind of attitude. I believe my wheel got caught by something in the road - but that wasn't a justification for suing or a reason to blame someone else. Just as you said, it was an accident. No blame to be laid - I'm just thankful that my helmet allowed me to continue to live a full life.

Maybe scaring them is what they need? But then again I don't want them having nightmares and mom and dad coming after me! But I will use the stories and some of the pics for sure!!

Denise -
Maybe scaring mom & dad would be a good thing though - just enough that they don't allow their kids to head out without their helmets.

I saw a child in my neighborhood riding without a helmet. Her dad was outside, so I stopped to talk with him - to recommend that she wear a helmet. He said she didn't like it and he thought if he forced the issue that she would stop riding her bike. My response to him was that it would be better for her to stop riding than to die or to be severely injured by a helmet-less head hitting the ground. I also talked to his daughter (in his presence). I pointed out the still-red spots on my face, bruises that I think will never go away - thinking that maybe that would make an impression on the child. Nope. (Of course the bruises that live on my face to this day happened when I was wearing my helmet - but I figured that she wouldn't realize that. Anything to attempt to convince her that a helmet is a good thing.)

Unfortunately our conversation did nothing to change the child's behavior.

--- Denise

[bouncybouncy]

you might want to check out this story...amazing!!! the guy's head was literally run over!!!

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=133934

[Thorn]

thinking that maybe that would make an impression on the child. Nope. Unfortunately our conversation did nothing to change the child's behavior.

Denise...don't discount your effort. Perhaps it didn't make a difference that day, but people can take a long time to digest concepts that initially don't agree with them. Maybe you did make a point. Don't give up trying (though I truly doubt you would).

This thread has been really interesting in a scary sort of "wake up" mode. I've always been a helmet believer and shudder when I see helmetless heads--particularly on kids riding on the wrong side of the street <grrr />. I did crash while wearing my helmet. I got knocked out and was only coherent after arriving in the ER. I have no recollection of the ambulance ride although I was told I rode in one. The helmet kept my injury to a small concussion.

When I read the postings here, I realize that in comparison my injury was minor. Still, without that helmet it wouldn't have been.

[run it, ride it]

ever crash twice in a helmet you didn't think was damaged the first time? tell you what, you really feel crash number two! do make sure to show crashed helmets with no visible damage--sometimes this is just as powerful as overwhelming damage. makes it a little more relatable for kids who have had small injuries but cannot fathom something really horrific. perhaps company reps can help you out with analyses of such helmets on a microscopic level.

[tangentgirl]

I should not have been reading this two hours before I take off for home on my bike. I've got my helmet, as always, but all these stories make me want bubble wrap. Lots of bubble wrap. Maybe I can stop by the mailroom on the way out...