Stronger helmet laws help prevent tragedy, save money

By Ira Zunin

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Sep 03, 2011

~~<p>Struggling to regain consciousness, I reached back and felt the large bloody gash in my scalp. My son and I had just gotten into Ripstiks. If you haven't seen one, it looks like a skateboard of sorts but there is only one wheel on each end. We hit a huge patch of algae on the pavement and the sudden loss of friction shot my feet up into the air. The last thing I remember was feeling my body horizontal to the ground and three feet above it. We hustled home and mom turned up just as we were debating whether or not I would have to go to the emergency room or we could get away with superglue. Fortunately, my function was not impaired, my college degrees were not lost and I can still recognize my patients, but I should have worn a helmet.</p>
<p>Several people responded to last week's column on the dangers of concussions and traumatic brain injuries by pointing out that helmet laws in Hawaii are inadequate. One reader commented: "As a Medicaid worker for the state, I saw so many young adults who applied for welfare medical coverage due to head injuries. Too often, I would hear them say, ‘No one's going to make me wear a helmet!' Yet, the taxpayers pick up their medical bills. Freedom with no responsibility for one's actions is unconscionable."</p>
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Struggling to regain consciousness, I reached back and felt the large bloody gash in my scalp. My son and I had just gotten into Ripstiks. If you haven't seen one, it looks like a skateboard of sorts but there is only one wheel on each end. We hit a huge patch of algae on the pavement and the sudden loss of friction shot my feet up into the air. The last thing I remember was feeling my body horizontal to the ground and three feet above it. We hustled home and mom turned up just as we were debating whether or not I would have to go to the emergency room or we could get away with superglue. Fortunately, my function was not impaired, my college degrees were not lost and I can still recognize my patients, but I should have worn a helmet.

Several people responded to last week's column on the dangers of concussions and traumatic brain injuries by pointing out that helmet laws in Hawaii are inadequate. One reader commented: "As a Medicaid worker for the state, I saw so many young adults who applied for welfare medical coverage due to head injuries. Too often, I would hear them say, ‘No one's going to make me wear a helmet!' Yet, the taxpayers pick up their medical bills. Freedom with no responsibility for one's actions is unconscionable." Login for more...