helmets are not optional

[cyclinnewbie]

With all of that said... I have to say that honestly I don't care if someone wears a helmet or not. It's their life. Their head. It's not my place to tell them to protect it.

<climbing onto my soapbox>
I'm gonna throw my 2 cents in here, for what it's worth. I guess I don't care if adults don't wear a helmet, because they're making an "informed" decision. Except for when they wreck, have a massive head injury, become a vegetable, require nursing home care for the rest of their lives, and then I have to pay for their stupidity. That is irresponsible.

The other thing that makes me mad is kids not wearing a helmet. Who wants to see their child in the above situation? I did an ICU stint in nursing school, and took care of not one, but TWO 18 year olds (ok not kids, by no means were they adults either), who had severe head injuries from crashing on their skateboards. They were going to be in a vegetative state for the rest of their lives. One of the mom's said her son wouldn't wear a helmet because it wasn't cool. I get that it's vitally important to be cool, but even at 18, I got that it was also vitally important to be alive. I have never ridden without a helmet, I require my kids to wear helmets, and even my 13 year old will not get on his bike without one despite the fact that some of his friends don't. He tells them "When you've lost the ability to talk or wipe your nose because you've hit a car with your head, I will come to the nursing home and visit you, but I won't be the one in that bed". And, God willing, he won't be.

I know that a helmet is not a guaranteed life-saver, but geeze, it's pretty much all we got, so why not do all you can? Having said that, I have not and would never be rude when speaking to someone about their choices.

I also realize that this mentality goes for other irresponsible acts such as drunk driving, drugs, unprotected sex, etc. I could go ON AND ON, but I shall spare you LOLOL.
<climbing off my soapbox>