1. Yes, it's a whole new look! Have questions or need help? Please post your question in the New Forum Questions thread Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Seeing tons of unread posts after the upgrade? See this thread for help. Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice

Make sure your kid is wearing their bike helmet!

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by serendipity, Jun 20, 2011.

  1. serendipity

    serendipity New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2008
    Messages:
    111
    Likes Received:
    0
    Please parents--make sure that your kid is wearing their bike helmet! With summer swim practice now in the mornings I have seen several kids riding to practice without their helmets on. They have their helmets with them---hanging from the handle bars! Might be that they left home wearing it but as soon as they were out of sight of parents they then removed it. While they might not think wearing a helmet is cool---not wearing one will not make you cool, and it could make you injured. I have a friend that crashed while riding her bike and was injured pretty badly--pins put in her arm and knee trouble for a long while. She swears that her helmet is why she is alive today. Helmet or not--she is still a very cool lady! So please, especially with the tweens that are so worried about that type of thing--ensure that your kid keeps their helmet on! And btw crossing at Waxpool across from Dunkin Donuts to head to the Community Center pool is very challenging especially in the busy morning hours and there have been so many kids that I have seen making risky runs and bikes across that intersection heading up to the pool.
     
  2. Steve Campot

    Steve Campot Broadlands Real Estate Broker

    Joined:
    May 28, 2008
    Messages:
    514
    Likes Received:
    22
    My sister is a nurse that helps long term brain trauma patients get assistance. Many of her cases where or are kids that where not wearing their helmets. Lots of kids become disabled for life, often from just a fall, no car involved. Very sad!
     
  3. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2005
    Messages:
    5,929
    Likes Received:
    69
    and- cool or not, you can let the kids know that it's THE LAW. i have a 12 year old who fought us on this and once we explained the legal consequences, he backed up

    http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/hard-headed_ordinance_tries_to_keep_kids_safe123/

    ...The law requires children younger than 15 to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle or motorized scooter. The law doesn’t require a child to wear a helmet while riding on a skateboard...

    ...Children not wearing a helmet will receive a citation and their parents will have to pay a $25 fine. If the children provide a helmet to the officer who cites them, the citation and fine can be waived...

    personally i think the law should be tougher with a higher fine and revoked riding privileges! but it's a start...
     
  4. Audrey

    Audrey Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2004
    Messages:
    906
    Likes Received:
    11
    It is so sad to me that rather than wear a helmet they will leave the bike home and walk. I told a son's friend who wanted to borrow my son's bike to go catch up with the group that he would need to also borrow a helmet (house rule) and he said it's ok he'd walk. What is the big deal, really?!

    Seriously, I wish I knew how to get the kids to stop resisting on this issue. Newspaper reports don't do it, gross hospital photos don't do it, punishments don't, what does it take?
     
  5. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2010
    Messages:
    1,789
    Likes Received:
    54

    I agree with you and what's more...alot of it has to do with peer pressure, trying to be cool without the use of a helmet, AND the feeling of being invincible (they think nothing ever will happen to them). IN fact, I am friends with several professional skaters that were the subjects of the movies "Lords of Dogtown" and "Dogtown and the Z-Boys". Many of them tell me they forbid their kids from riding bikes or skateboards WITHOUT a helmet. Why? They've already seen too many injury cases ending up in permanent disability. They don't even skate now without a helmet themselves.

    Kids today are too stubborn to acquisce to the parent's demands. No helmet-no bike/skateboard is my mantra.
     
  6. rich351854

    rich351854 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    Messages:
    464
    Likes Received:
    2
    Life is always not that easy...I have a special needs child that struggles with the sensation of the helmet...but we are happy enough to have her riding her bike that the risk of injury is something we are willing to take on.....

    The only reason I am posting this is to say that you should be careful before casting judgement or making comments.
     
  7. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Messages:
    1,791
    Likes Received:
    136
    Thanks Rich... takes some courage to point that out and I think the risk/reward can be managed if done with some attention to detail.
     
  8. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2001
    Messages:
    3,277
    Likes Received:
    69
    Rich, my son has the same 'issue' with hats, etc. I for one TOTALLY understand and thank you for posting this.
     
  9. serendipity

    serendipity New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2008
    Messages:
    111
    Likes Received:
    0
    If caring about a kid's safety is judgement then color me judgmental... Btw, just this morning I saw a couple of 12 year old girls that I recognize from swim team crossing Waxpool with cars not too far off with no helmets on and their helmet swinging on their handlebars. I did slow down, roll down my window and say, "Hey girls--use your helmets." I for one would appreciate the same done by another adult if my kid were doing the same. I was thinking, "What's it going to take? A serious accident?" But the answer is no-- because we've had that in recent years with a skateboarding injury and no helmet and a kid airlifted out of the Broadlands. Truly, just don't want to see that happen to any kid. Really, just wanted to put it out there that you might want to check with your child and make sure that they aren't taking their helmet off when they leave to ride their bike. Thought it was neighborly to keep others aware of what I saw and try to help avert an injury or worse a tragedy.
     
  10. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2001
    Messages:
    3,277
    Likes Received:
    69
    Serendipity, the intent of my post wasn't to criticize you. We have a rule that our daughter doesn't get on a bike, scooter, etc without a helmet and make sure she complies. My son is 4 years old and won't be on a bike anytime soon. I was just agreeing with Rich that 'sometimes', there could be other factors present. This is NOT to say that it's an excuse for every child we see out there not wearing their helmet. In fact, unless my son learns to accept having something on his head, he's probably not going to be allowed to go anywhere other than the immediate area of our home, if at all. We live in a cul-de-sac, so it's easier to 'manage' for us. I guess what Rich was trying to point out was that sometimes, there's another side of the story that folks aren't aware of, that's all.
     
  11. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2010
    Messages:
    1,789
    Likes Received:
    54

    Understood all of the postings on this thread -- but it does break many a parent's heart if a child (any child) incurred a serious head injury as a result of not wearing a helmet.

    As I understand it, helmet laws were developed for this reason alone--to prevent head injuries whether it be an adult or child. Rightfully so. Not judging anyone here at all....I just cringe any time I read about a child who sustained a severe head injury and spend serious time in the hospital/rehab center trying to recover from such an injury (some may never recover). This only creates heartache on both sides of the fence.

    I personally would rather see kids of all kinds wear a helmut and stay safe rather than see their lives drastically altered and parents lives shattered if a child sustained a head injury that could have been avoided by a helmut. Like Serenpidity, color me judgemental for caring for kids of all kinds. But I know that this isn't a perfect world.
     
  12. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2006
    Messages:
    2,512
    Likes Received:
    19
    Around 3:50pm today I saw three girls on bikes without helmets. They were crossing Claiborne at Ridgeway. The girls looked to be around 12 years old.
     
  13. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2005
    Messages:
    5,929
    Likes Received:
    69
    This issue will never go away, unless of course, helmets become cool...then kids will want to sleep in them! We can only do so much as parents. As they leave our sight and choose to break the rule, it'd be great for the law to back us up and enforce the law for their safety. We cant wrap them in bubble wrap and prevent every bump or even accidental death, but in the case, the law backs us up, and it helps. It was the reason my dgon adopted fighting us on it.

    The 15 yr old that died from his head injuries falling off of a skateboard a month or so ago was heart breaking, yet even showing that to the boy didn't convince him:
    " I'll be more careful than he was, its easier to lose control of a skateboard than a bike," he had a slew of come backs.
     
  14. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2010
    Messages:
    1,789
    Likes Received:
    54
    FWIW, I contacted a professional skater friend of mine who is one of the "Godfathers" of modern skateboarding fame. He posted this picture on Facebook in an attempt to show young kids that wearing helmets is neccessary. Showing this picture to your kids may help convince them that wearing a helmet may help avoid serious injury. The guy not wearing the helmet ending up in the Emergency room and had to have scalp staples to close the massive head injury. From what I have been told is that he's still in the hospital. Just wanted to pass this on just in case some parents want to use the photo to convince the kids that disasterous results can happen with serious consequences.
     

    Attached Files:

  15. kevinq

    kevinq Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2006
    Messages:
    734
    Likes Received:
    119
    There are many young kids in the neighborhood, who are still within their parents' sight, riding bikes on the street without helmets.
     
  16. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2005
    Messages:
    5,929
    Likes Received:
    69
    Of course there are. My point was parental control of those who choose to enforce the rule, not those who choose not to. That's why I hope that anyone who knows me or my son will tell me if they see him riding without a helmet.
    We simply can't assume that a kid without a helmet is or isn't allowed to be, ya know?
     

Share This Page