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Original poster

Cycle helmets

8 replies

Horsemum123 · 30/12/2013 18:00

I have a very able 12 year old with cerebral palsy, she walks, dances, rides her pony and sails bug her Physio has always pushed cycling which we have always done as a family with dd 8 and ds 4 in toe . I am a paediatric nurse and tend to side with helmets . However my dh is a paramedic and insists on helmets and body protectors for riding ponies and helmets for bikes. That includes me, I went out in a cap the other day to the shop on my bike and was spotted from the ambulance and jeez did I get an earful when He got home that night!!!he has reason , he loves is family and has seen a lot in 20 plus years in the job.
Due to this my daughter has stopped cycling, she feels at 12 it is geeky to wear a helmet even though she chose it. I bought an exercise bike but it just isn't the same. I am not as helmet mad as dh but hate seeing bare headed kids on bikes as I too have seen the consequences. However her muscles are evidently missing the exercise and her consultant is pro bike when cp is concerned at her level as it keeps muscles loose. There are threads on here making suggestions but no success stories I can find about convincing a 12 year old that a helmet is a good idea.. May be is 1d did a photo shoot all wearing helmets she would be convinced lol!! Advise great fully required

OP posts:

CMOTDibbler · 30/12/2013 18:05

You could tell her about my colleague. 6 months ago, he was out for a sunday afternoon cycle on quiet country roads. A bird ran out in the road, and the combination of braking hard and hitting it put him over the handlebars onto his head.

As it was, he spent 2 weeks in ICU being ventilated, then 3 months in hospital and further time in rehab learning to swallow and walk again.

This was with a helmet on.

His drs said without a helmet he'd have died.

Look slightly geeky or increase your risk of dying.. Not much of a choice to me.

Umbongolongo · 30/12/2013 18:30

Would she ride a pony without a helmet on? No.. Why not?
What's the difference? Why does she wear a seatbelt in the car? Maybe start looking at Olympic cyclists on the net.
I nearly died 3 years ago from falling off my bike. My head hit a log, and had I not been wearing a helmet, the bit of branch that went into the styrofoam of my helmet would have gone straight through my temple.

PoshPenny · 30/12/2013 18:32

would a full and frank conversation with her father not convince her her that helmets are the way to go? perhaps she needs to hear about some of the things he has seen as a consequence of not wearing a helmet. there was something on BBC breakfast just before Christmas about a young teenage boy who had a horrific cycle accident because he refused to wear a helmet because it messed up his hair style. thankfully he is getting better, but major recovery needed from serious brain injuries...

Piffpaffpoff · 30/12/2013 18:39

I was hit by a car while cycling this year. It was a very low-speed impact but I will never forget the noise my helmet as my head thudded onto the road with some force, and I clearly remember immediately thinking thank god I wear a helmet. I walked away with cuts and bruises but I genuinely think I might not have been here if I wasn't wearing that helmet.

Geeky or dead? I know which I'd rather be.

Piffpaffpoff · 30/12/2013 18:40

"...the noise my helmet made..."

Original poster

Horsemum123 · 30/12/2013 19:04

All this is so true n making me realise its worth the battle. I think she thinks we are over protective because of our jobs but its actually a no brainer isn't it!!! I think the pony issue isn't an issue as a helmet goes with the 'look' and it is the law to wear one one the road at her age. She would not however dream of riding without one. Her friends that cycle to the stables however do not wear helmets which is how this started. her school friends arent great at it either. I think her dad may need to have more of an adult style chat with her about consequences. Thanks for the replies so far. It's reassuring to know we are not going ott about it.

OP posts:

hiddenhome · 30/12/2013 20:30

My dad died after coming off his pedal bike. He sustained severe head injuries and died despite treatment and surgery.

bigbluebus · 30/12/2013 20:39

I remember a story in our local paper a couple of years ago about a boy out delivering newspapers who was knocked off his bike and was fortunately wearing a helmet. They used the (damaged) helmet to go around local schools and do talks about the importance of wearing a helmet. Maybe you need to get hold of a helmet that has been in an accident to show your DD and make her realise what would have happened to the person's head.

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