>
Welcome to another installment of the Top 10 Ways to Avoid the ER.
Number 3 – Dress for disaster
A couple years ago, I witnessed a motorcycle crash on the freeway. It was a young man, going about 70 mph, on a rainy day. He hit the brakes too hard, and the bike went down, and he ended up sliding along the freeway on his back for quite a ways, until he came to a gradual stop. Fortunately for him, he was wearing an elaborate safety suit, with full leathers, motorcycle boots, full face helmet, gloves, and a heavy padded jacket with reinforcement.
After he came to a stop, he stood up, and appeared uninjured. This is amazing. Granted, if he had slammed into something abruptly, the protective gear may not have completely saved him, but if he had been in shorts and flip flops, it would have been a complete disaster. For many activities, we should wear protective gear, including: mountain biking, skateboarding, skating, skiing, etc.
Just assume you’re going to crash, and think about how not fun it would be to have me picking gravel out of your skin with tweezers, and I think you’ll go for the gear.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
So agree.
Was just reading this today!!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4836676a6009.html
” Stab-proof vest proves worth ”
‘I hated it to start with, but I’ve sort of had to eat my words’
The Dominion Post | Tuesday, 03 February 2009
METAL JACKET: A passing German tourist, who is a paramedic, tends to police officer Grant Freeman after he hit a fallen tree on the West Coast. He says his stab-proof vest saved him from more serious injury.
A senior police officer believes the stab-proof vest he hated wearing saved his life in a motorbike crash.”
I so agree. Was just reading this today:
I so agree. Was just reading this today:
“Stab-proof vest proves worth
‘I hated it to start with, but I’ve sort of had to eat my words’
METAL JACKET: A passing German tourist, who is a paramedic, tends to police officer Grant Freeman after he hit a fallen tree on the West Coast. He says his stab-proof vest saved him from more serious injury.
A senior police officer believes the stab-proof vest he hated wearing saved his life in a motorbike crash.”
You can say the same thing about dressing for the weather. If you live in a cold climate dress in warm clothes (not flip-flops and short sleaves) when you leave your house. As an EMT I really prefer not to have to deal w/ some one who has black fingers and toes from frostbite because they did not dress appropriately. Like wise, in warm climates protect yourself from the sun!