helmets.... worthless?

[BustemUpBob]

Wear the Helmet, It will prob save your life or face maybe a nose at some point. Saved my butt on an off-road dump. The more you have on the better off you are!!!

[proudlom]

Now that I think about it, maybe a helmet wouldn't protect you very well against a lot of impacts like the doctor may be suggesting; however, it definantly would protect against road rash and smaller impacts.  That's like saying armour and lethers and stuff are pointless; they're not going to protect you from broken bones, but they sure as hell do something.
Someone needs to punch that doctor in the face (and ask him if he'd rather had a helmet for that, heh)

Wear your helmet!  

[powrful1]

After my coyote/motorcycle accident in March I haven't been back up yet...has a good deal to do with getting marriaged and being poor.  However, I hit hard on the interstate, and then proceded to slide a long way on the face sides and back of my jacket/pants/gloves/boots/helmet.

The helmet was worn away on the backside where it took most of the punishment......this was almost a full inch from the surround areas.  

Lemmie think....inch of skull or inch of helmet....

When I get my new bike, you bet I will have a helmet.  In KS they don't require the use of helmets, but I think a little to highly of myself not to!

[bob]

I believe in helmet use when riding a bike, .... But, it's also America.......

C.......

I agree.

I just moved from Michigan (mandatory helmet use) to Wisconsin (no helmet law).  It's been six months & I'm still nowhere near getting used to seeing helmet-less riders all over the place.  I know for certain that helmets have saved my life on at least three occasions & I wouldn't ever think of riding with any less than the maximum amount of gear I can muster.  I think that people that decline helmets are making the wrong choice, but I'm not sure I want to take that choice away from them.  I just hope they are making the choice with their eyes open & are not deluded by some shakey, half-baked studies into thinking they are safer than they are.

Fellow listers, please use all the gear you can find.  If you choose to do without the safety gear, please at least understand & accept the risk you are taking.

[/ ]

[kyzee]

Someone needs to punch that doctor in the face (and ask him if he'd rather had a helmet for that, heh)

I second that... :mrgreen:

[bigdaub]

after going down at 65mph on the freeway a little over a week ago, i will say what that doctor said to you is bull.

i distinctively rememberd my head hitting the asphalt a few times, and i'm glad that the beating went to my helmet instead of my head.  i think i wouldn've been f'ed without my helmet.

[jiggersplat]

all i can say is, a helmet might not do anything, but no helmet DEFINATELY doesn't do anything.

[Michael]

medical school

Welcome to the Cabal, Bro.

"you know those things might not really do anything?"

Look at what the man's saying.  You will discover we always hedge our bets.  In medicine there are two things we don't say- always, and never.  As far as I understand it, and as others have said, there have not been any well-conducted studies that categorically prove helmets are good.  That is not the same as saying there is no evidence.

a friend of his was actually involved with the legislation

What's he trying to say here- Trust me because I know a guy?  That's not the way a scientist thinks and actually casts doubt on the strength of his position.

he did say though that he strongly suggest i wear one.

As would I.  This also weakens his "They may not do anything" argument.  You will find in your career that you have to be very careful what you advise people because they will hold you responsible for it.  Hence the hedging.
Once again, welcome to the profession, good luck with the studies, and ALWAYS wear your helmet.

[proudlom]

If you're not going to wear your helmet, at least have the courtesy to fill out your donar card...

[Muldoon]

Heres a test. Wearing your helmet, get someone to have a go at your head with a belt sander. Now repeat the experiment with the helmet removed. Compare results.

[straightforward]

Even if one can't exactly understand what the guy is telling us in, assumably, Portugese,
one kinda gets the point: http://www.superbikemagazine.com/content/movies/helmet_test.asf (size: 386 kB)

Wouldn't file this exactly under 'scientific research' but wouldn't do that to that doc's statement either

[Michael]

Dude, sounds like that doctor is trying to drum up more business for the medical system!

Doctor: "Noo.. don't wear a helmet, cuz if you do I will be out of a job!"

I hope that's not really what you think of us.  
BTW that's an interesting website you have.  Coll pic but thin on detail, though.  :dunno:

[johncam4]

"Two arai quantums.  The only thing I remember while going down on the track was seeing the ground scraping across my visor as I slid down the track on my lid.  I'd be missing half my face if it weren't for that lid.  Great helmets, tried and true."

he explains it good enough