One way to think of the helmet dilemma

[intheWRONGsummitcounty]

In light of some long threads, and some recent ongoing discussion of head trauma issues in the context of the high profile death, I just thought I'd add a way of looking at this I just thought of. Also, I've seen tons of mags and others photographed in TR photos not wearing helmets (a pretty good number).

Think about the backcountry. Everyone here either loves skiing the backcountry, or can't wait to get there one day if we are able to. None of you... yes NONE of you go into the backcountry without a transceiever, probe, and shovel. Why? Because avalanche danger is real and you want to maximize your chances of getting rescued if you are buried in a slide.

Well, none of you plan on avalanches, and you take courses to learn about precautions that ensure minimal avalanche danger. Yet the risk is still there, and you deal by hauling around perhaps cumbersome hardware.

Falling and hitting your head are things you don't PLAN on doing, and good skiing and high skill level ensure it will probably not happen. But in a fall--and more--in a really possible slide... knocking your head is a real probability.

So why not think of your helmet as a necessary piece of equipment, just like a probe, beacon, and shovel?

(btw I do not mean to prosyletize with this thread... just putting some thoughts out there to think about. It's up to you whether or not to protect your head)

[RootSkier]

You're doing it wrong.

[Patches]

I think dilemna is spelled with an n.

[brice618]

Tags plz.

okbye

[Shadam]

[QUOTE=intheWRONGsummitcounty;2341017]Well, none of you plan on avalanches,
are you thinking? fark helmets in the bc. farkin lota good its gunna do a gaper like you in a tree well.

[powdork]

it's different with beacons, probes, etc. because it's not a decision that affects only yourself. Those are necessary equipment because you won't have partners if you don't have them (or they may be required to go OB, etc.).

And even so, lots of folks enter the bc w/o them too.

[skiingsamurai]

And even so, lots of folks enter the bc w/o them too.

sad but true

I have the same point of view on helmets as I do laws pertaining to drugs and other things "they" are protecting us from.
I dont see any reason why a person should be protected from themself. If someone is dumb enough to not wear a helmet, or do heroin (not saying there the same) who cares, as long as it doesn't effect me or my well being I couldn't care less.

disclaimer: I do wear a helmet, I dont do drugs, and I only preach helmets to my closest friends for whom I care about. A total stranger can do whatever they want, I just wish that they cared the same I do, thats all I can do

[Lone Star]

what was the question?

[D(C)]

sad but true

I have the same point of view on helmets as I do laws pertaining to drugs and other things "they" are protecting us from.
I dont see any reason why a person should be protected from themself. If someone is dumb enough to not wear a helmet, or do heroin (not saying there the same) who cares, as long as it doesn't effect me or my well being I couldn't care less.

disclaimer: I do wear a helmet, I dont do drugs, and I only preach helmets to my closest friends for whom I care about. A total stranger can do whatever they want, I just wish that they cared the same I do, thats all I can do

As most people here are relatively aware of the risks involved in their activities, I agree with you that it could be an educated personal choice. However, Johnny Gaper, who just got a snowboard for Christmas and decides to take the city bus to Grouse, needs to be protected from himself. He doesn't know any better and is pretty likely to suffer head trauma. Especially at Grouse.

Yes, education and awareness are a large part of the solution. But people need to listen.

[Spats]

However, Johnny Gaper, who just got a snowboard for Christmas and decides to take the city bus to Grouse, needs to be protected from himself.

No, he doesn't. This is America. Go move to the UK if you want to be protected from yourself. Oops, that doesn't work -- there's more violent crime there than America. Oh, well.

Besides, Johnny will just survive to careen out of control all over the hill until he hits me hard enough to rip the binding off my ski and fuck my knee up for months (this actually happened to me at Kirkwood). I just got hit again last week by another boarder who didn't think it was important to look down the hill instead of across. Maybe if Johnny gets his bell rung a couple times he'll learn to ride (or ski) better.

[LightRanger]

Spats, D(C)'s location is listed as Vancouver, BC, so from his perspective "this" is not America.

[The Schralper]

No, he doesn't. This is America. Go move to the UK if you want to be protected from yourself. Oops, that doesn't work -- there's more violent crime there than America. Oh, well.

as if! agree with the first statement though

[TacocaT]

My old lady is an OT at a hospital and she deals mostly with head injuries. I have learned from visiting her that is takes just a minor blow to the head to make you forget how to put on pants or worse. But most of her patience fell down the stairs in their house, where T-boned when someone ran a red light, or some other accident while going about their daily lives. Where do you draw the line on when a helmet should be worn. I wear one about half the time but some days I just need the wind on my scalp and by hair blowing back. I don't want that taking away from me.

[I Dunno]

If you get a bad head injury in the backcountry it DOES affect somebody, if you're skiing with a partner.

[IskiEC]

If you crack your head in a slide and knock yourself out cuz you weren't wearing a brain bucket, how can you dig yourself out and start searching for your partner(s)? Protecting your head isn't completely selfish...

[Johnny Deep]

Needing protection from one's self is only required when that induhvidual can do it themselves...due to many issues, no doubt.

[toast2266]

Don't fight natural selection. People shouldn't need to be protected from themselves.

[The Duke of Hurl]

Maybe if Johnny gets his bell rung a couple times he'll learn to ride (or ski) better.

Head injuries make snowboarders ride better? Interesting theory.

[powndnstein]

there is no dilemma there are only people with helmets and people without helmets. You are either one or the other. I think it should remain that simple, unfortunately I foresee a future of rules, regulations, and parameters that will make everyone THE SAME.

[eblackwelder]

My old lady is an OT at a hospital and she deals mostly with head injuries. I have learned from visiting her that is takes just a minor blow to the head to make you forget how to put on pants or worse. But most of her patience fell down the stairs in their house, where T-boned when someone ran a red light, or some other accident while going about their daily lives.

This is why I wear a helmet 24/7.

[Buzzworthy]

By all means keep not wearing helmets.

When you ring your bell around here, you simply keep my wife in her nice Dr. job and pay for my toys.

[Vasya-s-Marsa]

The idea that wearing a helmet somehow makes you invulnerable is wrong and may be dangerous, as you may start taking bigger risks.

[Danno]

what was the question?

which studfinder works best in the backcountry?

[Pablo Escobar]

disclaimer: I do wear a helmet, I dont do drugs,

you're doing it wrong. not wearing a helmet and doing drugs is the way to go.

[Lone Star]

which studfinder works best in the backcountry?

dude, there's already a thread about that. let's stick to the (never discussed, original) topic at hand!