One of my son's friends died today from head injuries when he fell while skateboarding here by our neighborhood. He wasn't wearing a helmet. When I think about all the skating I did when I was younger on ramps, ditches, parking garages, etc. and I never wore a helmet, I've never been that concerned for my son to wear one. It's really a heartbreaking story and I feel terrible for this kid's family. My son was able to say goodbye while he is still on life support even though is brain dead. These kids don't know how to handle their grief and it's too bad that they have to lose a young friend at such an early age. Anyway, I can't stop thinking about it and how some accident could take one of my kids at any time. http://www.kvue.com/news/local/Anderson-HS-student-dies-in-skateboarding-accident-121675624.html
Kid is a warrior in my book... Can't imagine the loss and the effect it will have on the family very sad, my condolences go out to the family....
Very sorry to hear about that and my condolences to the family. I make sure my young relatives always wear a helmet when they bike or rollerblade. I've started them snowboarding and they don't wear helmet yet but this winter will make sure they do. I have to admit I feel like a hypocrite because I never wear a helmet when I bike, snowboard or ski.
Ack, sad. Will certainly keep this in mind (although my son is the most cautious kid I've ever seen).
Sorry to hear this. I think we've all been a little lax on wearing helmets at one time or another during our lives. We just take for granted that it can't happen to me because it hasn't happened yet. I remember back in college when updawg, myself, and others were riding some semi-adventurous hilly trails in Nacogdoches. Next thing I know...updawg had an accident and hit his head. He had to go to the hospital for stitches and we were lucky that's all he needed. I've taken a few spills in my lifetime where I hit my head really hard. Once had a Bowflex break during an incline bench press and a pulley wheel the cable goes through came off and flew around at 100 mph hitting me in the head. I also fell backwards once and hit a cabinet handle on the back of my head. Both were hard knocks and caused injury. Obviously, not nearly the same as what happened to this person here. But, any head injury has the potential to kill by causing brain swelling...even if you think it is no big deal at the time. That's the scary part about knocking your head. But, this poor guy landed on his head and had no chance. In the end, this is just a horrible tragedy. But, all skaters and bikers should wear helmets with no exceptions.
that's horrible. I never wore a helmet growing up, but then again, i was never doing anything acrobatic on my bike or anything. Still, you dont necessarily have to fall 25 feet to have brain damage.
We make our son wear a helmet when he rides a bike or skateboard. I emailed him this thread and the link to the article to reinforce why it is so important.
Saw that this morning, too. Feel terrible for the family. I have a friend who's son is a frosh at Anderson. I think he was friends with this kid, too. I make my 5-yr old wear his helmet any time he gets on his bike.
A terrible tragedy. I freely admit to never wearing one until I had to set an example for my kids. Now I do, even when they aren't around. They wear helmets. If I caught them without one, that bike was locked up for a month. No exceptions.
Me and some of my old skate buddies were standing around talking about this last night (here in Austin). What a horrific tragedy. As a life-long skater (age 40) I must freely admit to rarely wearing a helmet. Back in the early-mid 80s I would wear one regularly at the skate park, but no other times. We rode ditches just like the one this kid was in...all the time. Now I'm a parent of a son who -- even at the age of 2.5 -- is obsessed with skateboards. I haven't ever forced him to wear a helmet (on the board, his trike nor his balance bike). This story is having a profound effect on me. I feel so horrible for the parents. I can't even imagine... Helmets. Helmets. Helmets. Helmets...
Start the helmet thing early. The only time Max will wear a helmet is when the cops come to the skatepark. Oh, wait, he doesn't do that any more. He just gets in the car and drives away when the cops come.
Just the worst nightmare for parents. As a kid I only wore a helmet at skate parks where they made you. When I was in college at UT, some friends and I were skating a ditch I hit a rock and went head first into the wall. It knocked me out and my friends tell I went into convulsions. They threw me into the car and drove me to the hospital. I was extremely lucky and got away with a few stitches. My three year old daughter is also very interested in skateboards. She will wear a helmet.
horrible story and as someone who lived, breathed and ate skateboarding for most of my teenage years i can sympathize - i hit my head once and had to go to the hospital w/ a concussion. i only wore a helmet at the skatepark of houston b/c they made you. i appreciate the parents imploring skaters to wear helmets, but i hope they dont push for laws requiring them while skating (or biking). this kid didnt die b/c he wasnt wearing a helmet while skateboarding - he died from a 25' fall.
I remember years back going to UT @ Austin...some girl riding her bike on Guadalupe street died. She wasn't even riding at the time. I think she came to a stop and basically lost her balance, fell over, hit her head, and that was that. It seemed ridiculous at the time...but it happens.
We definitely make them wear them now, and they're just on tricycles. Seattle is pretty hard core, and you will get ticketed (kid or adult) for riding a bike without a helmet. I'm not sure what the rule on skateboards is.
That reminds me of the time he destroyed Gerald Wallace's lungs. D: Exact same thing he tried to do with JJ Barea!
