Risa - thank you for sharing your story. What a powerful reminder that helmets are a necessity for both the young and old(er).

Risa, I'm so sorry you had this experience, but I applaud you for sharing your story and reminding us all to be safe!

I'm terribly sorry your father died so young. I'm glad your husband is doing well, and it sounds like he'll be perfectly fine before too long.

I was the first person I knew to wear a bike helmet. I got ribbed for it a lot. Then I got hit head-on by a car. I don't know how it happened. I don't remember the impact or the ambulance ride. That was in 1982, and I still don't remember, but I remember my bike got mangled, and my helmet was cracked and crushed.

Thank you for sharing your story and I am so glad your husband will be Ok. I too have a close friend that was in a bike accident without a helmet. Her life after that day was changed forever as she suffered a head injury that could have been prevented with a helmet. Helmets are for everyone, not just the young. Thanks for reminding us of that.

Thank you for a moving story. I will never forget picking my younger brother up from the hospital after he was hit by a car (on his bike) and crashed thru the windshield. His helmet was still there in the ER, shattered and sliced, a vivid picture of what DIDN'T happen to him.

Thank you for sharing your story. My brother lives in Maplewood and had to receive the call that I had been hit by a truck while on a training ride this past September (in Oklahoma where I live). Had I not been wearing my helmet (and wearing it properly) that call would have been much more devastating than it was. HELMETS ALWAYS!

after 28 years in pediatric rehab and the happy "survivor" of a bike accident that left me with a broken wrist... i will never understand parents who choose to put helmets on their children but not on themselves. I dont care if you have made financial arrangements to take care of your child in the event of your untimely death, there is no arragement for your absence in their lives.

Risa, and others who kindly shared their stories: I wonder how many lives you have changed by telling your stories. Probably a lot. I know that tomorrow, I for one will be rechecking the fit of my 9 year old's helmet and mine too. Thank you for helping, though in doing so you had to relive such painful memories.

On MANY occasions, I've seen people (teenagers most of the time) wearing a helmet on their head while riding a bicycle but WITHOUT THE STRAPS BUCKLED. I'm guessing this is done so the person can "sort of" say they are complying with parental and/or governmental rules. And, with straps dangling from the side of the helmet I suppose they are being what they perceive to be more "fashionable" than the fully buckled version. However, if they were to end up in a real accident, the unbuckled helmet will simply fall off before it could be of any help. Parents - Please make sure your children don't do this. And, while on the subject of children riding bicycles - bicycles are supposed to ride WITH traffic on the right side of the road and NOT against traffic on the left side of the road. I see children doing it the wrong way all the time and it creates a very dangerous situation for the children as well as drivers/pedestrians.

I'm still surprised when I see adults riding without a helmet- surely the fear of getting hurt- family, mortgage, rent, etc. would be enough. It wasn't until a friend was in a serious bike accident (and he had a helmet on) that I started using one all the time.

Related in stupidity are those dumb kid attachment thingees where the kid is in his or her own little cabin riding behind the parent's bike-- those things look so dangerous- ESPECIALLY since parents ride them in the street and try to act like cars.

Also, I hate kids who have a helmet, but leave it on their handlebars.

Thankfully, like smoking, most kids wear helmets. But part of being young is being hard-headed. I just hope if an accident happens, it's hard enough.

Thank you to all the Patch editors who have shared this story with their communities. I hope it will make a difference, even it if saves one life. Writing this piece took me to an emotional place I have not been in a long time and worth every tear.

My husband is scheduled for a double surgery on Monday. His collarbone will be reattached and secured by a plate and his thumb ligament repaired as well. He is healthy and will be fine in a few months. In his own words "I'm a lucky man." Bones and bruises heal, memories stay with you.

A few extra pointers on helmet care: Do not leave it in a hot garage, if it is dropped (even slightly) or has been in any kind of collision, replace it. And lastly, make sure it fits properly and is buckled at all times. If you are not sure how to find and fit a helmet correctly visit a reputable sporting goods store for help.
I won't say who, but a medical colleague of mine said, "If you don't wear a helmet, you must not have a brain to protect." How much more on point could one be?

Risa, sending up prayers for a fast recovery for your husband. Just another note, when i fell the ER doctors wanted to to know if i was "helmeted" and to examine my helmet. They documented that I was and it was intact, but in doing so I learned that insurance companies are now asking the same questions when reviewing the claim. It will be interesting to see if the insurance companies begin to challange or deny coverage for those not taking the proper precautions.

Liz, excellent point made. If pain and fear of injury doesn't spook someone enough, perhaps the liability and expense of recovery or post trauma care will. Wearing seat belts are law for all, as should be helmets for all ages.

Risa, Thank you for sharing your story. I have tears in my eyes! Can you explain why helmets should not be left in the garage -- our bikes are there, so that's where the helmets are. I'm guessing we should be storying them in the house. Also, is there a way I can reassure myself that my helmet, my husband's and my daughters, are still safe to wear?

Risa, I wish your husband a speedy recivery, I fell off my bike 6 years ago. I shattered my pinky... He will probably need PT on his hand. I recommend Accelerated Hand Thearpt in West Orange.
All the best!

Thank you for sharing your story. It is beyond my comprehension why people do not insist that their children wear helmets anytime they are on anything with wheels. That goes for adults as well.

Thank you Risa for telling this story. I would love to have you come to a future Board of Education Meeting and tell this story. Too many kids ride around town without helmets on their "beach like" bikes, texting or on the phone and its a tragedy waiting to happen. As a cycler I agree with your statement that only a person without a brain to protect would not wear a helmet. I hope your husband has a speedy recovery.

On July 29, next Friday, I'll celebrate the 11th anniversary of my own date with destiny. On a late afternoon mountain bike ride with my son in Stokes State Forest, I miscalculated a tank trap at the end of a fire road and landed on my helmeted head, changing my life. My hero, my son, then 10 years old, was able to find help nearby and get park personnel and an ambulance to me very quickly.

I too, ended up at Morristown Memorial for surgery the next morning. I wear a scar on my neck and have a titanium "appliance" holding my cervical spine together. My story would certainly be far different had I not been wearing a helmet.

I was an ardent fan of helmets before my accident, and continue to bike and wear a helmet.

As to replacing helmets, one could adapt the rule of thumb for smoke detectors, and buy a helmet every 2 years at the beginning of the riding season. Most helmet labels show the date of manufacture, so it is easy to keep track.

I wish Risa's husband a quick recovery and I urge anyone jumping on a bike for any kind of ride to wear a helmet!

Helmet questions? My husband said it is temperature changes, especially hot temps in a garage which can compromise the material (styrofoam) is is made of. He is happy to talk about it by email and or phone... in much greater detail. His email is markolinsky@gmail.com, please feel free to reach out and he will call you back... he will have a lot of free time in the next few weeks to talk.

Also, if a helmut is older there may be signs of wear and tear that cannot be easily seen - he can explain it better than me. Helmets range in price starting at as little as $30 and up, so an investment in a new one should not break the bank and is well worth it if there is even the slightest question of the condition.

I'm so glad this story has a happy ending. I can imagine the emotions you went through until you knew Mark was ok. I'm sorry to hear about your father. I had a friend back in the 80's who loved to ride his motorcycle. We met at a job and became friends for several years. Then at some point I didn't hear from him nor could I get in touch with him. Months later he called me. He had been in a motorcycle accident and had brain trauma (I don't remember the technical term). Although he was functioning, he was not the same after that. It was very sad to watch. If he had worn a helmet, he would have been fine.

I'm looking to highlight some links which may prove useful to help answer some questions coming in. I am learning more myself as I do this: http://www.bhsi.org/general.htm.

As pointed out here, helmets are clearly made differently for different activities. I will continue to hunt and update you all as I find more good info.

My husband, Hyman, and I were in Singapore and Thailand recently for two weeks and I was shocked how many people I saw on mopeds without helmets! I saw children riding and women sitting sideways behind drivers without helmets. So dangerous!

I remember I bought a new bicycle helmet a few years back and on the day I bought it - smack - I fell on my head a few houses from mine in South Orange. My head hit the hard cement payment - but because of my helmet, I got right back up again. The helmet took the brunt of the impact.

I also remember when I was a young child growing up in Oak Park, Michigan, a next door neighbor, Mark Perlman, was riding his bicycle and hit his head on the sidewalk. For the rest of his life he was cognitively impaired (at that time, we called him "mentally retarded").

Risa
So happy that your husband will be OK. Thank you for sharing your story.

Wow! Quite a story! So sorry to hear you lost your dad at such an early age and in such a traumatic way. I am happy and grateful to hear that the outcome with your husband was much different. Although he was hurt, he is still alive and will get well again. Your story about the helmet should be inspirational to many people. It is scary to think that when we were kids, we all biked without helmets. Of course, by the time we had our own children, standards had changed, and wearing helmets was the norm. Hallelujah! Wishing you, your husband, and your sons a long and healthy life,

Margie

Thank you for sharing this story. Another great reminder of why we need to wear helmets.

Risa, I'm so glad that your husband is okay. Thank you for sharing your story and helping make an impact on helmut use. It is a vital issue that your story brings home in a touching way.

Head injuries are a real nasty affair. Survivors can be impaired, their personalities changed, their lives ruined. I lost a friend in a moped accident too. He hit his unhelmeted head on the curb in the Bahamas. He was in his early twenties. Truly sad. My own experience with a helmet helping to save my own life was during a snowboarding run on some icy flat terrain. Cruising along I caught an edge and instantly went down on my back, my head whiplashed and hit directly onto the icey ground with a loud smack. I felt like I had been hit with a 2x4 and slowly realized that in fact that I had my helmet on....I smiled! I laughed to myself. Total relief!~

Yes, and closed head trauma can be devastating, even fatal. Sometimes I get the feeling people think they can get away with something dangerous if they are wearing safety gear. I don't presume to tell people how to live their lives, but if you wouldn't dream of doing a certain activity without a helmet, you probably shouldn't be doing it at all, if you value your health and your life.

First of all, you and your family are in our prayers. To relive the story of your father I know was painful. Just know you've made me make a point to check helmets again before we go bike riding and, most importantly, for me to put mine on.

Beverly, reading your note about checking and PUTTING your helmet on means so much to me. Several others who have read this story or seen me around town have said this will make a difference and they will finally wear a helmet as well. I am really thankful for this feedback. Be well, Risa

Glad to hear that everything went pretty well. My son rode his bike with helmet on yesterday, fell and broke his front permanent tooth. We are devastated today; we were standing so close and could not protect him.

wcmom -- so sorry to hear this news about your son and his tooth. I know the feeling quite well about wanting to protect the kids, I have two grown sons who were and still are incredibly active at 23 and 25. It is a blessing that the tooth can be fixed, capped, bonded or whatever it is they can do now -- but I'm also gald to hear that was all the damage done. He was lucky! Keep the helmet on and BTW -- please buy a new one now - if the helmet even hit the ground a little.... toss it and replace it.. just in case.

I always wear a helmet, dang peer pressure ;>). But the I think the "must wear a helmet" fervor is a little out of touch with the actual dangers of riding without a helmet. Other countries such as Holland or the Netherlands where more people use bicycles as a means of transportation don't have this infatuation with helmet wearing and it's not carnage in the streets. A cerain part of it is the change in attiude in the U.S in the past couple of decades. Where we expect things to be 100% safe other countries seem to have a more realistic sense of things. Also has a previous poster mentioned it's not a magical shield of invincibility. But some people will ride like it is.

One time I was crusing along on my bike. It felt so good the sun was shining down, there was a slight breeze. It just felt so nice more than normal. Usually I'm having fun but it doesn't exaclty feel nice. Then I realized it was because I wasn't wearing a helmet left it at my friend's house when I left. My helmet's not cheap either it's a nice higher end model. But the memory of how nice that ride felt has stuck with me. The only time I haven't worn a helmet.

Sometimes I feel like I wear helmet not because I'm safer I just don't want to be ridiculed if I get in an accident and not wearing one. Serious accident wearing a helmet you get all the sympathy in the world, not wearing a helmet shame shame even if the injuries were similar.

Risa, I, too, was in a bike accident nearly two years ago and if it were not for my helmet I doubt I'd be typing this comment today. It was a late afternoon fall ride and the shadows were not revealing all the dips and potholes on my route. I hit a pothole which sent me flying onto the nearby sidewalk smacking the back of my head and right side of my body on the concrete walkway. A broken helmet and some concrete rash I remounted and rode home. Nothing real serious, but to see the damage caused to my helmet only made me wonder what my skull would have looked like without the protection. I've always worn a helmet because I never knew when I might need it. 15 years of cycling and I needed it once. Decent odds, but certainly not worth the risk. If I'm riding I'm wearing.

Hi Risa, I'm Ed Colavito, a paralegal at Sills who works in the same wing of the 11th floor as Mark. I hope he's doing well! And tell him thanks again for the Bag Balm recommendation. He'll get a chuckle out of that. Oddly enough, in 1977, my Uncle Bob, a Union City fireman, fell off a 2 story building on a cold winter night, attempting to save another fireman who was slipping off the roof due to ice. Unfortunately, Bob's helmet strap was not secured under his chin when he fell, and he landed on his head and died immeidately. The "brother" he attempted to save lived, but broke many bones below his waist, and is lucky to be walking. I see little kids riding their bikes around all the time and don't have the chin straps secured. I'm tempted to stop them in their tracks next time. Be well.

Back in the 80s before cell phones we were outside Denton on our way to Decatur. 30 miles away from anything. One of our ride companions was fartin' around doing bunny hops over roadkill (not wearing a helmet) and misjudged and banged his head pretty badly an obvious concussion due to the blood coming out of his ears. One of us had to haul butt to the closest place with a phone so we could get an ambulance out there. Not fun! Or funny! My helmet has saved me three times in the last thirty years. One of those times the helmet didn't even have a scratch on it but it was cracked. Once you bang it replace it. Parents the helmet should be parallel to the ground when it's on someone's head. If you wear it back like a ball cap it does not protect the front of your skull! Many in the cycling community recommend replacing it every year. BTW in the Netherlands cyclists have right of way, not cars or pedestrians. Be safe out there!

Thank you for a poignant reminder to those of us who do wear helmets, why we do, and for those who don't wear them, or sometimes "forget" - why it is important to never leave on your bike/moped/motorcycle without one. Also a very important part of your story, for all, wearing them correctly!

I am so sorry for the loss of your father, and relieved that your husband is still here.

Hi Risa;
I just heard about it today from Bonnie.
Thank goodness for Mark's helmet!
PBD

Risa,
an amazing story, one we can all learn from... my heart goes out to you, and all you went through. Havng met you after the accident, Im so happy to have met both you and Mark recently, and to see the outcome for myself and the impoirtance of helmets.

Some may wonder WHY I'm reviving this story almost a year later. This past Saturday, I did a marathon walk along the Hudson River on the NJ side up to the GW bridge, over and down on the NYC side. I watched as so many people on bicycles passed me NOT wearing helmets. People seem to think that because they are on a cycling/pedestrian path without any cars, they are safe -- this is so wrong - NOT SO.

If this story is read by yet one more person and saves one more life-- it will have served a purpose - so I believe it is worth re-posting. If you know someone who rides, skates, or does anything that would be safer wearing a helmet - please share this story with them today. Risa