Hi, George,

I’m a little confused, because the 1^st sentence below and the last sentence seem to contradict each other. Are you saying that seatbelts have no protective properties? If so, I must disagree. Because I can tell you that 1) airbags only get activated in specific circumstances, certainly not even close to every accident and 2) just by hearing the injuries sustained, anyone in ER/trauma can guess whether the person was restrained or not.

Seatbelts most absolutely protect you from injury.

This time, it’s not even my opinion. There are many examples and studies that prove this.

Mary

See, I knew I was missing something. When you clarified it, it made more sense to me. Thanks for clearing it up.

But, George, I did read the whole sentence; in fact, I read it and reread it several times to try to see what I was missing. I do try to not jump to conclusions.

In my more cynical moments, I would like to see cyclists who decline helmets be required to either 1) put up $500K for their immediate care and as much rehab as that will cover or 2) sign a statement accepting responsibility for making such a poor decision and be put on a “Do Not Treat” list in case of an accident (of course, then we’ll lose too many of our organ donors, so we’ll have to think that through).

Obviously, this isn’t the answer. But then, wearing a motorcycle helmet sort of becomes a societal responsibility, rather than a personal right. Plenty of precedents (safety vs. personal preference) have been set and this is one that would be easy to see if it were being followed.

I think as nurses, many of us have seen firsthand the end-results of cyclists without helmets in accidents or folks in MVAs who didn’t have their seat belts fastened.

Mary

My thought is that since helmets only protect the wearer, whereas seatbelts can protect others besides the wearer,

Even if they are not in the vehicle at the time of the impact (if the seatbelt keeps you from being thrown across the

Car, and can then stay behind the wheel and not hit that pedestrian…etc)

That may be the difference in why states mandate seat belts and not helmets.

But, I don’t think there can be any true explanation into the minds of politics, other than money,

Is it because (tongue in cheek – sort of), the insurance companies find it’s cheaper to treat someone without a helmet

Than with a helmet (injuries that much worse, they won’t require treatment?, or the state’s CAT funds will treat

Them, and they don’t have to).

Here’s my opinion:

I try not to confuse my job, an ICU nurse, with everyone’s freedom. 

My patient just recovered from a drug overdose, (illegal drugs), and we get to discharge her “home” to be around her 8 year old daughter.  I don’t have any right to impose my values into this situation by calling the police and having her arrested for illegal drug use.  I can only educate her and wish for the best, letting DFS do their job, etc.

If you don’t ride a motorcycle, you don’t have any right to force the bikers to do things just because it is your belief or value.  You can, however, educate them.  I ride a motorcycle and usually wear a helmet.  There are times I do not wish to wear one, BUT THAT IS MY CHOICE.  Why should you have anything to say about that??  (P.S.  If the helmet doesn’t have a face shield, which most don’t, the helmet will not stop any bug and yes, they hurt when they hit. It’s just a part of riding, like getting wet if you are in a boat.)

The people who are making and/or passing laws that dictate to the individual what they can and cannot do are slowly taking your freedom away.  They are on a slippery slope, already.  First the car seats, then seatbelts, then helmets, then seatbelts on busses, then who knows?  How about seatbelts in a boat?  What if a boat flips over or crashes?  Who’s going to write that law, someone who doesn’t even own a boat???  They write the laws because they don’t want to spend the money, the time, etc. to educate people.  They would rather force them to comply with safety.

I know the statistics.  I know people who have died on motorcycles, with and without helmets.  I know people who have died in MVC’s, with and without seatbelts.  It doesn’t matter how many laws you make.  God is the ultimate decider.  You can dictate all you want.  I prefer to educate, preserving one’s freedom of choice.  My patient received education today; hopefully she will make better choices tomorrow. 
Hopefully everyone can be alert to the slippery slopes they choose to climb on.

But that’s just my opinion.

Barb Dallas, RN, BSN