Ouch - Wear your helmet

phabib

Forum Lieutenant
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when I get my motorcycle, I definitely will! Hell, I think any EMT or Paramedic caught riding without one should have their cert taken away.

Anyways, hard to believe that guy survived. I was sure he was dead from the way he was hanging there. Just as a spinal immobilization question, would you remove the helmet or tape it down to the backboard? Those things are on tight, I'd think taking it off would compromise his spine.
 
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Bosco578

Forum Captain
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when I get my motorcycle, I definitely will! Hell, I think any EMT or Paramedic caught riding without one should have their cert taken away.

Anyways, hard to believe that guy survived. I was sure he was dead from the way he was hanging there. Just as a spinal immobilization question, would you remove the helmet or tape it down to the backboard? Those things are on tight, I'd think taking it off would compromise his spine.

I'd r/o c-spine and walk him to the unit.........kidding,it would be coming off,I'm assuming he is unconscious,need airway access. Come to think of it, he does look dead....hmmmmmmm
 
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KEVD18

Forum Deputy Chief
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Hell, I think any EMT or Paramedic caught riding without one should have their cert taken away.

that is easily among the top ten most ridiculous things i have ever read on this forum, and you have some really stiff competition.

for one thing, theres absolutely zero correlation between a personal risk i decide to take off duty and my professional career. we're not talking about heroin or unprotected sex, both which extend theoretical ramifications from off duty time into on duty time.

second, what about state where there is no helmet law(new hampshire jumps to mind). you;re saying that, because someone ahs a certain job, they should be subject to a law that no one else in the state is?

do you actually know anything about helmets and how they relate to tbi's and sci's? i suggest you look into the actual statistics and case studies.

for the record, it is my personal position on the matter that i would rather be pronounced on scene because i wasnt wearing my helmet than living the rest of my life as a quad/para with all the lovely parts of that that go along with it(bed sores, disimpaction etc).
 

enjoynz

Lady Enjoynz
734
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In New Zealand it's illegal to ride a motorbike (and for that matter a push bike) without a helmet.
As far as I can see, not wearing one is as silly as not wearing your seat belt in a car!
We have a lot of motorbike accidents here.

Also, a Paramedic friend of mine that runs a EMS service in Thailand says they would have a lot less deaths there,
if people had to wear crash helmets.
Their Stats for MVC's are really bad!

Cheers Enjoynz
 

rhan101277

Forum Deputy Chief
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when I get my motorcycle, I definitely will! Hell, I think any EMT or Paramedic caught riding without one should have their cert taken away.

Anyways, hard to believe that guy survived. I was sure he was dead from the way he was hanging there. Just as a spinal immobilization question, would you remove the helmet or tape it down to the backboard? Those things are on tight, I'd think taking it off would compromise his spine.

In class we are taught not to take off helmets unless they are loose fitting, because then they don't provide good stabilization.
 

KEVD18

Forum Deputy Chief
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what nobody wants to realize is that a person that is paralayzed from the eyelashes down is still considered alive. so that person, if they were injured in a motorcycle accidetn but were wearing a helmet, is considered a "saved life".

as i said earlier, to me thats no kind of life whatsoever............
 

phabib

Forum Lieutenant
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that is easily among the top ten most ridiculous things i have ever read on this forum, and you have some really stiff competition.

for one thing, theres absolutely zero correlation between a personal risk i decide to take off duty and my professional career. we're not talking about heroin or unprotected sex, both which extend theoretical ramifications from off duty time into on duty time.

second, what about state where there is no helmet law(new hampshire jumps to mind). you;re saying that, because someone ahs a certain job, they should be subject to a law that no one else in the state is?

do you actually know anything about helmets and how they relate to tbi's and sci's? i suggest you look into the actual statistics and case studies.

for the record, it is my personal position on the matter that i would rather be pronounced on scene because i wasnt wearing my helmet than living the rest of my life as a quad/para with all the lovely parts of that that go along with it(bed sores, disimpaction etc).

Are you seriously saying helmets don't prevent injury?

I stand by what I said. When someone proves they are an idiot, they shouldn't be in a position to make life or death decisions for other people. If they can't even figure out that a helmets prevent trauma then they shouldn't be medics.
 

marineman

Forum Asst. Chief
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If you're saying I'm an idiot for not wearing a helmet when I ride you need a reality check. Yet again if you're saying somehow this magical helmet prevents trauma you need an even bigger reality check. Not crashing prevents trauma. Remember in any collision there are actually 3 collisions that are taking effect on your body. A majority of the time the organ collision is when the most damage is done to body organs and that is a collision that the helmet will not protect against.

Let me ask you this, eating hot dogs causes cancer, living in Los Angeles causes cancer, smoking causes cancer, drinking causes liver failure and cancer, walking outside on ice could lead to a traumatic fall, climbing a ladder to clean your gutters could lead to a traumatic fall, drinking diet soda puts holes in your brain, eating fast food makes you fat and die of a heart attack. Should every paramedic in the world that's ever been guilty of one of these infractions on common sense lose their license? It's exactly the same thing except eating fast food and drinking diet soda are choices we make while on duty. Off duty means none of anyone's business.

P.S. for those debating to take off that helmet, if it's an open face helmet leave it on, if it's full face how do you plan on managing your airway?
 

karaya

EMS Paparazzi
Premium Member
703
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do you actually know anything about helmets and how they relate to tbi's and sci's? i suggest you look into the actual statistics and case studies.

for the record, it is my personal position on the matter that i would rather be pronounced on scene because i wasnt wearing my helmet than living the rest of my life as a quad/para with all the lovely parts of that that go along with it(bed sores, disimpaction etc).

Are you trying to suggest that not wearing a helmet will reduce the likely hood that one will wind up as a quad/para by being killed outright?

I realize this is your personal position as you stated, but it somewhat stuns me to hear what I consider an obtuse statement from a well respected professional as yourself. I certainly hope your "personal position" is something that you are not promoting to the public in your capacity as an EMS professional, especially when it comes to kids and bicycle safety.

The National Pediatric Trauma Registry shows that wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of TBI by as much as 88%. The NTSB recently released a report that by not wearing a helmet one is three times more likely to have TBI in the event of an accident.

A few months ago I photographed a motorcycle accident whereby the motorcycle collided with a brick wall at a high rate of speed and then cartwheeled the two riders nearly 100 feet. Numerous long bone fractures were the major injuries and there were no head injuries (both were wearing full face helmets). You can see photos of this accident in the upcoming December 2008 issue of JEMS magazine.

My point here is that your analogy gambles on either being killed or winding up as a "quad/para". As in the example I illustrated above, both riders got away with just fractures and no head injuries. It's a fair and statistical assumption that wearing their helmets is why the medics did not encounter any head injuries (obvious or suspected).

Ray
 

Ridryder911

EMS Guru
5,923
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The reason to wear a helmet when going high speed; is for open casket ceremony.

Sorry, I wear my helmet (most of the time) but also realize at high speed their worthless. Yeah, I've read the studies and witnessed numerous of motorcycle accidents too. Basically, if you are > 50 mph it really doesn't matter. Speed of impact and force one will still have TBI or other significant injuries.

In regards to TBI is that motorcycle or Bicycling injuries? As there is also a correlation of low speed impacts causing severe head injuries as well.

In regards to declassifying licenses for not wearing them... grow up. Are you going to also do the same with those >10 lbs overweight, BSA of body fat > 20%, those that smoke or drink alcohol or take prescription (non-prescription) medications as well or work more than 80 hours in a week? Yeah, lets start with something that occurs more often...

As an adult you know and recognize the risks. Just alike when you become a flight medic or nurse, you crash... great chance you are going to die. The least is a broken back, ankles, etc.. that again is if you live.

R/r 911
 

crayzeeemt

Forum Probie
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btw

when i get my motorcycle, i definitely will! Hell, i think any emt or paramedic caught riding without one should have their cert taken away.

Anyways, hard to believe that guy survived. I was sure he was dead from the way he was hanging there. Just as a spinal immobilization question, would you remove the helmet or tape it down to the backboard? Those things are on tight, i'd think taking it off would compromise his spine.

hes dead!!!!!!
 

crayzeeemt

Forum Probie
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that is easily among the top ten most ridiculous things i have ever read on this forum, and you have some really stiff competition.

for one thing, theres absolutely zero correlation between a personal risk i decide to take off duty and my professional career. we're not talking about heroin or unprotected sex, both which extend theoretical ramifications from off duty time into on duty time.

second, what about state where there is no helmet law(new hampshire jumps to mind). you;re saying that, because someone ahs a certain job, they should be subject to a law that no one else in the state is?

do you actually know anything about helmets and how they relate to tbi's and sci's? i suggest you look into the actual statistics and case studies.

for the record, it is my personal position on the matter that i would rather be pronounced on scene because i wasnt wearing my helmet than living the rest of my life as a quad/para with all the lovely parts of that that go along with it(bed sores, disimpaction etc).

I couldnt have said it better myself
 

BossyCow

Forum Deputy Chief
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So, wearing a helmet doesn't stop a minor crash from becoming more serious due to head trauma? I recall my days of commuting on a bicycle. I had a very minor crash and to this day can recall perfectly the sound of my bike helmet hitting the pavement and the resulting crack in the helmet. I remember thinking.. "Wow, that could have been my head" and have been a fanatic helmet wearer ever since.

The rationale that a helmet isn't going to help you in a high speed crash is the same as the 'I could get hit by a bus tomorrow so why shouldn't I keep smoking 3 packs a day' line. Not all motorcycle accidents are high speed crashes. Not all motorcycle wrecks are operator error. If you wish to take your life in your hands and avoid attempts to mitigate the results of your own obstinance, simply sign a release saying that if you are incapacitated by the results of your choice, that you relinquish all rights to SSI disability payments after you turn yourself into a self watering vegetable, unable to hold a job and I'll be happy to help overturn the helmet laws.
 

mikie

Forum Lurker
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If I recall properly, there were photos of this accident posted to this forum a while ago (~year) then later removed cause of the rules (NOT saying that this is a rule violation (since it's a link to YouTube, i would presume)).

Ouch.
 

tatersalad

Forum Crew Member
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I think the point might relate to cervical fractures caused by the straps on full face helmets. Sorry I don't have a link, but did read an article on this some time ago.
 

crayzeeemt

Forum Probie
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If I recall properly, there were photos of this accident posted to this forum a while ago (~year) then later removed cause of the rules (NOT saying that this is a rule violation (since it's a link to YouTube, i would presume)).

Ouch.

Your right. Thats an old one.
 

enjoynz

Lady Enjoynz
734
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Just a bit of a side question to this motorbike thing.
Of those on here that do ride motorbikes and don't wear helmets.
Do you wear leathers????

Enjoynz
 

Ridryder911

EMS Guru
5,923
40
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Your right. Thats an old one.

I was informed by Tulsa crews that he was still alive with a C-5, 6 subflexion fractures and yes as well as having a TBI and in rehab at St.John's. I don't know how reliable or accurate the recent hx. is though.

In the question yes, I wear full leathers on days when it is allowable (<90 degrees).

R/r 911
 
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