Re: riding clothes

["spencer" <spencer@inu.net>]

Doubt that there is more injury to neck form helmets.  But they sure save
on damage to face and head.  Neck injuries would probably have occured
regardless and then without the hat, the head would have significant
injuries too.  The mechanism of injury is the biggist indicator.  there is
not a doubt, that the helmet have decreased the head injuries.  I work ER. 
Injuries can be worse when certain 'physics' are in play.  BUT the rest of
the body can be put back together when the head can't.  As far as neck
injuriies, such as the lastest one with a celebrity, it is usually 'bad
luck'.  I have a friend who flipped his plane and landed upside down.  No
injury until he released his seatbelt and fell on his head and broke his
neck. Now many yrs later his body 'fused' the vertebra so the surgeons
didn't have to.  He drives his tractor and rides his horses, but is careful
of his neck . Some angles are painful.   Now that the helmets are so airy,
only bad thing is how your hair looks when you take it off.  Happy trails,
Mary Ann, Tx

----------
From: BMcCrary27 <BMcCrary27@aol.com>
To: katswig@deltanet.com
Cc: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: Re: riding clothes
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 1998 5:33 PM

In a message dated 98-05-12 22:54:41 EDT, you write:

<< There are other reasons for not wearing a helmet other than hairdo, ego
or
 image.  The IS a safety issue to be considered, what you may be risking is
 your neck (some people would consider that a toss up).
  >>

Most of the prople that I've talked to resist wearing helmets beacuse of
image, ego, or simply "I love the feeling of the wind in my hair". You
mention
the neck - IS there an increased risk to the neck from wearing a helmet?
I've
heard a hint of this but I would be interested to know if it is considered
a
proven fact, or even a strong tendency.

BMc