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Conference noted::bicycle

Title:	Bicycling
Notice:	Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:	JAMIN::WASSER

Created:	Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	3214
Total number of notes:	31946

2615.0. "Helmets CAN save your life" by JURAN::TOPEL () Tue Jul 20 1993 17:09


I have personally found/discovered the benefit of wearing a helmet.....

My original plans were to be in Quebec to do some mountain biking at one of
the national parks during 6/27 -> 6/30.

Instead I just got back in the states after getting out of a hospital.

On 6/29, both my son and myself were doing some mountain biking on one of the 
park's remote trails that are for either hikers or mountain biking only.

We hadn't gone very far, (turned out only 3.2 miles down a trail) when after 
doing a slight incline, I hit a 14% decline.  I'm not sure why I lost control.
The last thing I remember was starting to lose control - then everything went 
black. (per my cyclometer I max'd out at just under 30mph).

The following is per my son who was behind me:
I had been biking right on an edge of the trail and I lost control when I hit a
deep/sand spot.  After losing control, I went off the trail and hit a tree head 
on - both my bike and the top of my head/helmet.  I then hit the ground and 
rolled for about 30 feet, lost some scalp because the helmet ended up being 
pushed to the side of my head and lost the skin on my left forearm to the 
muscle.

I evidently hit my left hip a good one as I hit the ground, as it was 
de-jointed/re-jointed.  Due to the swelling (as it turned out and only because 
of the swelling) I was initially totally paralyzed from my waste down to the 
end of my left leg and just above the knee line on my right.  (my darn bike
was totaled)

There are a lot of details on how my son saved my life (the story was in a 
local Nashua NH paper, and it looks like Rescue 911 is going to present it).

Per the doctors at the hospital, the helmet initially saved my life.  

On the paralysis - it is supposed to be because a bunch of nerves are "squashed"
because of the swelling, and a couple minor ones got ripped a part.  But I've 
been told the "major" ones will be back in full force within the next month 
or so.

Back on the helmet - I'm not a good preacher, but when I do get back on a
bike I'm now going to always wear a helmet.  Because I wore a helmet I realized 
a sever concussion only - vs (per the doctors) coma or death.   I hope I'll be
able to afford another bike some day - I don't know if I'd be able to afford 
"coma or death".

Although the helmet saved me "at point of impact" - afterwards due to various 
complications my life was saved again - this time by my son.  Its not helmet 
related but I'm real proud of my son.

Dan

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2615.1	Get well soon ;-)	SALEM::SHAW		`Wed Jul 21 1993 12:07`	4
	Dan, here 's wishing you a quick recovery. Thanks for sharing. Shaw
2615.2	Encouragement	BAHTAT::HILTON	Beer...now there's a temporary solution	`Fri Jul 23 1993 06:16`	10
	Dan, Just to encourage you, I smashed my leg REAL bad skiing in March (metal plate, 17 screws. 2 foot long scar etc ), and am back on a bike. It's a great way of rebuilding your leg muscles back up, and was one of the first exercises I started doing (apart from pysio). So you'll be back real soon now :^) Greg
2615.3	starting to return for duty	DEMING::TOPEL		`Fri Jul 23 1993 10:15`	16
	Re:, .1 &. .2 Hopefully when I can afford a bike (ANY bike - except a tricycle...) I'll be back on the road/trails asap. The doc's have been concentrating on the concussion. On the leg/hip - I have knocked out some minor nerves - just some "feeling" nerves - at least I now have some reserved space for any future doctor shots. But the main ones that do all the "walking" are finally starting to listen to orders. I've been eyeing my son's bike - but he "prefers" I don't go near it...... Greg, glad to hear your leg went back into "alignment" - due to all the breaks, sounds like you spent a lot of time in bed. Dan
2615.4	Total time off	BAHTAT::HILTON	Beer...now there's a temporary solution	`Mon Jul 26 1993 09:31`	10
	>> Greg, glad to hear your leg went back into "alignment" - due to all >> the breaks, sounds like you spent a lot of time in bed. 5 days in Switzerland 10 days in the UK A total of 42 days off work!!! Greg
2615.5	42 vs 28 days - you win..	JURAN::TOPEL		`Mon Jul 26 1993 12:30`	13
	Re: .4 Greg - sounds like you did have a good one - I don't suppose that that was how you planned your time overseas..... Also - one thing I noticed up in Quebec (and.... nothing against it) is that 90% of the hospital staff only spoke French). Did you run in to that when you were in Switzerland? Also - I need to get back on a bike (safely...) asap. Any suggestions on a cheap bike? (and until I make all the doctors happy via $$ - it has to be a cheap bike.................). Wish my Shimano Deore LX had at least survived..... Although the left leg still isn't working 100% - the 70% that is, needs to be used.....
2615.6	Safe and free	BAHTAT::HILTON	Beer...now there's a temporary solution	`Thu Jul 29 1993 15:09`	19
	>> Also - one thing I noticed up in Quebec (and.... nothing against it) >> is that 90% of the hospital staff only spoke French). Did you run in >> to that when you were in Switzerland? Yep! But they did speak some English, and I speak a little French. >>Also - I need to get back on a bike (safely...) asap. Any suggestions >>on a cheap bike? (and until I make all the doctors happy via $$ - it >>has to be a cheap bike.................). Wish my Shimano Deore LX >>had at least survived..... Although the left leg still isn't working >>100% - the 70% that is, needs to be used..... I borrowed someone's exercise bike to start with. Safe and free. So many people buy exercise bikes and never use them, that chances are someone will lend you one! Greg