Expect the unexpected. I worked in the TBI (traumatic brain injury) unit in a renowned hospital in NYC. Sadly, I had kids and grups (grownups) who fell on skates, from a bike and walking while on a phone on Broadway. The child on the phone went off a curb and fell onto the street a got a bump on his head (the back of his head).Skatergirl wore wrist and knee gear but no helmet. When the left side of her head met the curb, it hurt. The bicyclist was riding his dads old bike on fathers day as he had done for the seven years prior, as his dad was no longer with him. When Bill (biker) was pedalling to the top of the first hill near his home, he felt the chain snap. Bill went head over handlebars and "piledrove' his head into the asphalt. He remained conscious. A man watering his lawn watched the entire event unfold. The fire/rescue team in place, a medic said Bill was ok and Bill said 'I broke my neck''. Bill was able to lift his arms and snap his fingers; concussion only. Rolling his eyes, the medic said, 'sure. If you say so'. The youngster on skates lost his life from a bleed in the back of his brain as he was delayed going to the ER as they waited too long. imagine the guilt. NO HELMET. Skatergirl, last I heard, was still alive but hardly... no helmet.
My friend Bill DID have a helmet on which saved his life. His neck had 3 breaks but no sever in his chord. Because he was a weightlifter, his neck was so developed that it saved his life along with his helmet. Seems sometimes we can help us not to go before our time. He is now retired from dentistry but worked steadily thru age 78.
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