Annual Helmet PSA
Today is the 22nd anniversary of my son's traumatic brain injury from a bicycle accident. He was thrown off his bike headfirst at about 30-35 mph and endured multiple brain surgeries and weeks in a coma, months of hospitalization and rehab that continued at home. Doctors could not even tell me for sure that he would live--the neurosurgeon gave him a 50-50 chance. He has life long disabilities both cognitive and physical. A helmet could have turned a severe brain injury into a mild one. I supported the move to make helmets mandatory for children up to age 18 and hope it becomes the law everywhere.
I think the best way to observe this day is to remind people to spread the words about helmets. I know someone who was hit by a drunk driver and had only a mild concussion though his helmet broke as it absorbed the impact. The inconvenience of wearing one is a small price to pay for such amazing protection. (Irony: my son was forced to wear a helmet even in bed, 24 hrs a day, for nearly a year until the bone flap was put back into his skull.)
I think the best way to observe this day is to remind people to spread the words about helmets. I know someone who was hit by a drunk driver and had only a mild concussion though his helmet broke as it absorbed the impact. The inconvenience of wearing one is a small price to pay for such amazing protection. (Irony: my son was forced to wear a helmet even in bed, 24 hrs a day, for nearly a year until the bone flap was put back into his skull.)