Should everyone who skis now wear a helmet? If five people a year die from a head injury from falling or hitting something while skiing, should all skiiers now wear helmets?It's a horrible thing that happened to the lovely and talented Natasha Richardson......May she rest in peace and my deepest sympathies to those who loved her. (the picture I selected might not be the glitziest, but it's my favorite of her)
Some will say wearing a helmet is cumbersome and that not all people should have to wear them because some die for having not worn them (though I don't personally believe wearing a hard helmet is going to protect you that much if you hit a tree trunk, but I don't know for sure)...Others will say that, if it saves lives in the future, perhaps the untimely deaths of Ms Richardson and Sonny Bono, too, might at least end up being somewhat for the good..?
What do you think? It's a kind of RIGHTS thing, isn't it? A kind of FREEDOM question? Which side of that do you come down on?
z
30 comments:
Well, the discussion gets further than that. There was a recent case in Germany (about 2 months ago), where a Governor of one of the States of German had a terrible ski accident in Austria, during which he ended up in a coma, and the woman with whom he collided (a Slovakian 45 year old mother of four) died.
Two things happened as a consequence:
(1) A huge discussion broke loose about safety on ski pistes, a huge increase of the sale of helmets, a discussion about skiing police, etc. etc.
(2) A process in Austria during which he was found guilty, was sentenced to x days in prison but released on parole, and was fined €35,000. He felt he was not "guilty", but accepted it to avoid a lengthy distraction from his political career.
So, here you have it. Something must be done with safety on pistes, but criminal action? First time I heard of it - I believe this was done because of his prominence.
There is a whole array of problems and possibilities around this matter - and I believe the discussion is very open as to what to do (or not).
Mr.Z
"piste" is the German/French word for ski trails...by the way
Could it end skiing as we know it if everyone who runs into another skiier is sued?
Are we all reaching a kind of ridiculous level of "#@*&# can't happen?" (pardon my language, but, for the point..) Things DO happen, uncontrollable things..you might slip on the floor at the grocery store...did they drop that bit of water on the tile on purpose? Must they pay? I'm blogging on this soon.....this whole point.
Will it come to helmets for all?
because of such a few fatalities?
More rules, more regulations, where will it end. Why not simply make it the individuals choice.......
As tragic as this is, it should not be used to force skiiers to wear helmets, or any other presumed safeguards.
This is a matter of individual choice. This poor woman was the victim of a terrible accident. Accidents happen.
People ski, I imagine, because there's a sense of abandon and freedom as they "fly" down a slope.
They know there's a risk and I would think that's part of the lure to this sport.
People skydive, or race cars, or any number of activities in which risk is inherent in them. That, I would think is one of the reasons they participate in them.
The more risk averse society becomes, the more fearful and weak we become, and the more likely we would look for someone else to blame if something unexpected should happen.
In some schools, there is no more playing tag, no teeter totters, no dodge ball, and who knows what else. Pretty sad if you ask me.
I believe life is a craps shoot, and by the grace of God, there go I. I'd like to think it's my choice whether to take a risk or not. I don't want someone else deciding what is or is not for my own good.
Pris
I say it should be the decision of the skier as well, but if they did go the route and make it some sort of law then it should be for those who are beginners to intermediate skiiers and let the expert skiiers decide for themselves.
Blessings.
The government is not obligated to protect us from ourselves. You know, there is a cost every time the government imposes a regulation upon the ability of people to choose their own path. Yes, there is "the cost" of an unwieldy bureaucracy — one that we must pay for, but there is also another: a presumption by government that we are incapable of decisions suitable to our own sense of what freedom means.
I seem to recall many years ago that California imposed helmet laws on those operating or riding on motorcycles; much like the seat-belt law. And I remember that people sold their bikes rather than to ride them helmeted. I also recall a terrible accident at the San Onofre immigration checkpoint on I-5, where a woman burned to death because her seatbelt trapped her in the driver’s seat. Gosh, maybe the government doesn’t always know “what’s best.”
I agree that this was a tragic loss, noting too that we would not even know about it if the lady has been just a regular person. But it would have been a greater loss if government had imposed its will upon her ability to choose her own destiny; I fear this important point is lost on most Americans.
She was a beautiful and classy woman, you picked a good picture of her. I think people confuse glitz with beauty. I have always thought a truly beautiful woman is one who does not need the glitz.
Not surprisingly, I am a strong advocate for helmet use. The problem with head injuries is that often death is not the worst that can happen.
I have seen a man in his mid 20's in diapers and being fed by his father due to a head injury. He was a healthy man and was getting good health care. He may live like this for another 50 - 60 years easy.
I do suppport mandatory helmet laws for motorcycles and would like to see them for at least children on bikes, skateboards, etc.
The problem with a motorcycle rider not wearing a helmet is that it is not a choice that effects only them. Head injuries are very expensive. If the person injured is young and healthy (which, due to the cause of most head injuries, they are), they can cost taxpayers and/or payers of private health insurance millions over the remainder of their lives.
Do not buy into these stats that say that there are fewer injuries among people who do not wear helmets, they are completely misleading. It is an established fact that wearing helmets save lives and reduce injury. The real secret on a lot these stats is that there are fewer people that are merely injured, more people without helmets die. This makes it look like there are fewer injuries.
I have always been an advocate of astronomical insurance premiums for people who choose not to wear a helmet. Let them pay for their choice.
With this said, we can go too far in wearing helmets. I have seen a lot of people get head injuries falling in the bathroom. So I don't have an answer as to where the line is on when helmets should be required and/or encouraged. Life itself is risky. Anytime there is speed and and a high likelihood of falling involved though, helmets do help protect you.
Not a snowball's chance. I've fallen countless times while skiing, and there is some risk involved when you do anything athletic. My heart goes out to her family for their tragic loss.
A person could fall on any sidewalk (Dr. Atkins of Atkins diet fame slipped on ice), bonk their head and die. Does this mean we should all wear helmets while walking?
I'm more concerned about the availability of health services. I want to know the difference between falling in Canada and falling in the US. Which would provide the stat MRI, diagnose the brain bleed, and perform emergency surgery first?
As someone who doesn't ski but does ride on a motorcycle, I say, leave it alone.
Life is risky.
We have mandantory helmet laws in WV , regarding riding motorcycles.
Now, personally, I would wear a helmet any way, because of what the wind does to my eyesight and so on.
But I think the point of getting up on a mountain and indulging in skiing is to enjoy a sensation and the freedom and beauty of the snow and mother nature.
I do not think it should be mandantory to wear a helmet.
ANd no , I do not think kids should have to wear helmets while on bicycles, either.
Life is tough , it is hard and risky and unpredictable.
If one wants to engage in certain behavior, then so be it.
Every time the state passes these laws to protect ourselves from ourselves it is saying we are too stupid or incompetent to rule our selves and our own lives.
My gosh, what a wimpy world .
You want to wear a helmet , wear one. If you don't want to , then don't.
These resorts should give little education classes to their potential clients when they show up , give them pros and cons and let the chips fall where they may.
I wear a seat belt too, because I made a decision it was wise to wear one. I know now it is law, but I do not like to be treated as though I am an idiot.
This poor woman, Natasha , was said to have refused offers of medical treatment, too.
SHE made a decision..and now, she is dead.
Know what? When it is your time to go, it is your time to go.
WVDOTTR
To each his own. Accidents will happen no matter what. I think the problem lies in a culture where we no longer take personal responsibility and want to blame someone else.
When we are in the states, in NH, my children all love to sky, they have never worn helmets, but after reading about this, I will make sure my 14 yr old does from now on. The others are adults and I can only pass this information on to them.
I think it's kind of like fast food. I shouldn't eat it, sometimes I do. But I don't want somebody else making the decision for me. So I say in issues like this, it should be up to the individual to make his or her own choice.
Freedom is ALWAYS more to be cherished than mere SAFETY.
The theme comes up endlessly, and I always give the sam e answer to all variations.
"Live Free or Die" is a great motto. It is my personal motto as well as that of the state of New Hampshire.
Those obsessed with safety and security are potential slaves --- and slaveholders.
~ FreeThinke
Life is a Terminal Disease!
Living is Hazardous to Your Health!
Take No Risks - Live No Life!
Life IS Risk!
Halitosis is Better Than No Breath At All!
If You Want to be Safe - Stay in the Womb!
~ FreeThinke
People do stupid things. I've been in 5 totals in my life and I still won't wear a seatbelt.
Figure it ain't nobody's business but my own.
I do wear a helmet when I bicycle. go figure.
As usual WVDOTTER has it exactly right - and very well said too.
~ FreeThinke
"The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion."
~ Edmund Burke (1729-1797)
"They that can give up essential liberties for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
~ Franklin (1706-1790)
~ FT
Just put everyone in a straitjacket and have them tended by government owned and operated robots, and we'll all be just FINE ------ NOT!!!
~ FT
My wife's grandmother slipped on some ice in Michigan bumped her head and died soon thereafter.
I'm very sorry for her family, she was a lovely woman, but she wanted to learn how to ski. With all that learning how to ski entails.
I come down on the "it's my life, I'll wear one if I like" side, BUT, I thoroughly and totally respect and could be swayed to Chuck's side, too.
As an emergency room nurse, he ought to know WAY more than we do about what not wearing a helmet can cause. And he does.
Who knew Ducky would be libertarian on car seat belts? Good for you.
Still, I guess I want the freedom to choose...and an informed decision (after having read something like Chuck wrote) is the best decision.
interesting subject...again, our hearts go out to the Richardson and Neeson families.
If you don't want to wear a helmet with whatever you do as an adult, fine. But then you should pay for the consequences. Once the government gets involved in paying for people for their bad choices, the ski's the limit for laws and policies.
To quote the Rush song "Witch Hunt":
"Those who know what's best for us, must rise and save us from ourselves."
I guess I've made it clear that I am always for INDIVIDUAL CHOICE. I hasten to add, however, that it should always be an INFORMED choice.
We can't outlaw ignorance, but we should do everything possible to combat it with liberal doses of TRUTH whenever and wherever possible.
~ FT
Dr. John, One problem with what you say is, for the most part, these people pay their share of the freight.
Playing God is above a doctor's paygrade as it is the government's.
Isn't a doctor's credo, "first do no harm"?
This is exactly why the government has no place in health care. A person's life shouldn't be based on cost effectiveness.
Pris
Pris,
I agree but only up to a point. I do not believe the needs of an ill person should be permitted to BANKRUPT a family, a business organization and especially not a nation.
There is only JUST SO MUCH we can do to ward off the inevitable. Common sense USED to dictate when it was time to throw in the towel.
Today, thanks to the thoroughly mixed blessing of modern medical science, we have terrible tragedies like Karen Ann Quindlen and Terry Schiavo on our hands --- situations that enrich only LAWYERS and make grist for the mill of political activism on both ends of the political spectrum.
Why should the life of a terminally ill or hopelessly disabled individual be worth MORE than that of the lives of those burdened with their care?
It's an old and very sore subject, I know, but the issue just never seems to go away.
~ FreeThinke
Drowning is not so pitiful
As the attempt to rise.
Three times it's said
A drowning man comes up
To face the skies
And then declines forever
To that abhorred abode --–
Where hope and he
Part company,
For he is grasped of God.
The Maker's cordial visage,
However good to see,
Is shunned ---
We must admit it ---
Like an adversity.
~ Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
Submitted by FT
FT, The issue will never go away. Each case involves individuals with their own unique perspectives.
I don't diminish at all the burdens families have to face, and the difficulties therein. My own mother chose "no heroic methods to be used on her behalf".
However, I wouldn't have wanted a bureaucrat to make that decision for her.
There is no avoidance of pain and responsibility in these decisions. It's just life, and dealing with the pain of these burdens.
Pris
I detest helmets. I think they give parents an undeserved feeling of safety for children on bicycles and would do the same on ski slopes. Besides, where does it end? Maybe we should all wear them all day and only take them off to sleep. Oh wait, then you might fall out of bed and crack your head open. Hmm maybe then you could sue Serta.
I have always believed that when an issue like this arises it would be best to leave all decisions up to the individuals directly involved.
Bureaucrats, however well-meaning, should just BUG OFF and BOW OUT.
If you're an adult, you must do what you think you should do and be free to make the choice.
It's the same thing with seat belts, wearing the makes you safer, but you must be free not to wear them if you so choose.
It appears now that they're in overdrive in Canada blaming this ski resort for not having had access to a medevac helicopter. THAT, I would have thought, is something essential in a ski area.
But, a law suit? Might there be one? YOU BET. SHOULD there be? NO. It won't bring her back.
BUT, if they STILL resist having this availability and a law suit is what it takes to get one there, well....maybe I'd think that's a good thing.
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