re: helmets

["S. Brown" <sbrown@wamedes.com>]

>I was riding
>my ten year old very experienced trail mare, in front. I was turning my
>head to aske her a question, when all of a sudden my mare spun right,
>and right out from under me. My bottom hit first, but my head wasn't far
>behind, hitting the ground on my backside. As my head landed I was
>thanking the Lord that I was wearing my helmet.

This is, unfortunately, an all too familiar scene!  That's why it drives me
nuts when someone says they don't wear a helmet because they've 'been
riding a long time and "besides, ole' Blue won't dump me!"'  You stack
enough of the right occurrences together and you and ole' Blue will part
company.  And it's not the impact of your head against the ground that does
the damage -- it's the impact of your soft squishy brains against the
*inside* of your hard head when it comes to it's sudden stop that wreaks
the havoc...and that's not even touching on the subject of the veins and
arteries that rip open as the brain matter *leaves* it's position on the
other side of the head -- that's the worst part of all.  From one who's
seen a number of these emergencies -- *it ain't pretty!* ;-)  

A subdural hematoma can be an extremely life threatening and rapidly
developing emergency.  It can also be slow and insidious...not lose
consciousness, feel okay to start, then slowly start to have symptoms --
headache, blurred vision or double vision, ataxia...to eventual loss of
consciousness.  Shortly thereafter, if nothing is done (and you could be
miles and a lot of precious minutes from the closest medical center) you
will start to lose precious brain tissue...then you're either dead, a
vegetable, or severely handicapped.  Not great options!!

It's nice to hear about so many of you having incidences that could have
been a tragedy but you're here to tell about it because of your helmet.
Make sure they're approved.  You're not much without your allotted brain
cells...and don't grow much in the way of replacement when you lose them.
<g>  

I've always been a bit of a risk taker...a conservative one, but a bit bold
at times...and too damned old to be falling off, but I occasionally do.
Sh** happens and I'm always glad I've got my helmet on during my descent!!
<bg>

Sue


sbrown@wamedes.com
Tyee Farm
Marysville, Wa.