Here's a perspective from my husband - a now retired orthopedic surgeon - about helmet-wearing:
Here in New Hampshire (the "Live Free or Die" state), helmet wearing is not mandated for motorcycles or, of course, bicycles. So what happens if you have an accident? Here are his observations, from a medical point of view: 1. If you have a serious accident and you're not wearing a helmet (as you probably won't, if you live in New Hampshire), you'll probably die. 2. If you have a serious accident in Massachusetts (or any other state that requires a helmet), you'll probably live, but break your neck and be a quadriplegic. (And, in the case of the majority of motorcycle accidents he saw, you won't have health insurance.) So there you go. You pays ya money, ya makes ya choice. Beth Benoit Granite State College Plymouth State University New Hampshire Stephen Black wrote: >Good story, as was Tim's. But it raises a question. For context, first I provide a personal disclosure. I'm an occasional bike rider. I don't wear a helmet because: a) it impairs the sense of freedom I feel while bicycling b) it looks as though it must be hot and uncomfortable c) it looks silly (I'm vain, what can I tell you) d) it allows my daughters to act superior and lecture me So to justfiy what would otherwise be highly foolish behaviour, I selectively collect statistics showing that helmets don't work, and even if they did, risk homeostasis would cancel out any protection they might provide. It seems that quite a few TIPsters have survived bicycle crashes (me too). But unlike me, I imagine all you responsible folks were wearing helmets. Do you think they helped? Note. If you're going to tell me that the helmet saved you from brain damage, be warned that, allegedly like Dorothy Parker when hearing that Calvin Coolidge had died, I will ask, "How can you tell?" Stephen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- ---
