Why is the first question always "were you wearing a helmet?"
- Thread starter the reluctant cyclist
- Start date
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summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
When I went to hospital after breaking a bone in my elbow ... they asked if I had hit my head - no, and if I was wearing a helmet (was that relevant if I hadn't hit my head).
I think its just one of their automatic questions.
I think its just one of their automatic questions.
Glow worm
Legendary Member
- Location
- Near Newmarket
I started wearing a helmet for the commute last year and have found it protects me 100% from incessant nagging and earache from Mrs GW and other assorted members of my family. Works a treat! 
Headgardener
Armchair Cyclist
The correct reply that the OP should have given is "not on my hand no".
MrHappyCyclist
Riding the Devil's HIghway
- Location
- Bolton, England
Or, pointing to the hand, "yes, but it didn't work, though, did it?".
Sheffield_Tiger
Legendary Member
Well, if I hadn't been wearing a helmet my collar bone might have been broken when I hit the wing of the car with my shoulder.....
Yes, I was asked the same thing by the doctor who was a "keen cyclist".
I wasn't so sure. Do any "keen cyclists" describe themselves as "keen cyclists"? Most seem to say "Yes, I ride too" or similar.
I have a sneaking suspicion that "keen cyclists" actually take their bikes on the back of the car to Tissington Trail once every 6 weeks
Yes, I was asked the same thing by the doctor who was a "keen cyclist".
I wasn't so sure. Do any "keen cyclists" describe themselves as "keen cyclists"? Most seem to say "Yes, I ride too" or similar.
I have a sneaking suspicion that "keen cyclists" actually take their bikes on the back of the car to Tissington Trail once every 6 weeks
GrasB
Veteran
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
Funny you should say that because I often notice that of the 'civilian' drivers the ones with a mountain bike or 3 strapped to the back of the car are often some of the worst drivers around cyclists.
crumpetman
Well-Known Member
I think the word "keen" is used by third parties to describe someones interest in any particular activity. Normal people tend not to refer to themselves as a keen anything.
Don't criticise the doctor. If you had not been wearing a helmet he would probably and quite properly advised you do so in future. It is what many do (like advising you to drink less if you are over the 10 unit limit). he was being socially responsible.
This is because the doctor is acting on the advice of his professional association - the BMA. They have published a pro-helmet policy document backed up by the DfT and quoting the Cochrane Review: http://www.bma.org.uk/health_promotion_ethics/transport/promotingsafecycling.jsp?page=5
Cochrane is generally regarded as the 'gold standard' of peer reviewed scientific research. So, by default, the doctor believes he acting on the best advice available.
Of course if you look into this research a little deeper things begin to unravel. Its best documented elsewhere if you want to Google search.
Fundamentally the problems are not about the report being wrong but is it answering the correct question? does it discriminate between different risk groups? is it applicable here? and much more. That is not something Cochrane can tell you.
The counter stuff (perceived risk, discouraging cycling causing greater risk to those that do etc) is hard to get good research on - and so it is not possible to definitely say helmets are not a good thing. The real problem is a lack of good holistic research in the field. Which is why statisticians who have looked into this area have mostly concluded 'case not proven either way' so choice is the very sensible current option in this country ...
This is because the doctor is acting on the advice of his professional association - the BMA. They have published a pro-helmet policy document backed up by the DfT and quoting the Cochrane Review: http://www.bma.org.uk/health_promotion_ethics/transport/promotingsafecycling.jsp?page=5
Cochrane is generally regarded as the 'gold standard' of peer reviewed scientific research. So, by default, the doctor believes he acting on the best advice available.
Of course if you look into this research a little deeper things begin to unravel. Its best documented elsewhere if you want to Google search.
Fundamentally the problems are not about the report being wrong but is it answering the correct question? does it discriminate between different risk groups? is it applicable here? and much more. That is not something Cochrane can tell you.
The counter stuff (perceived risk, discouraging cycling causing greater risk to those that do etc) is hard to get good research on - and so it is not possible to definitely say helmets are not a good thing. The real problem is a lack of good holistic research in the field. Which is why statisticians who have looked into this area have mostly concluded 'case not proven either way' so choice is the very sensible current option in this country ...
Jonathing
Über Member
- Location
- Birmingham
When in fracture clinic with my hand recently the consultant asked what had happened and when I told him I crashed my bike he asked if I was wearing a helmet. I just held up my hand to face height, looked at it and looked at him in a confused manner. Hopefully he caught my "what the devil has that got to do with anything" drift.
smokeysmoo
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bolton, not very far from Nob End
I'm glad I was wearing one when I had a big accident a few years ago. If my head had ended up in the same state as my helmet I shudder to thnk of the consequences that could have ensued for myself and my family.
I'm not suggesting they work in every scenario, but I fail to see how wearing a helmet could make things worse.
Money can buy almost anything..............except experience, or a new head!
Andy_R
Hard of hearing..I said Herd of Herring..oh FFS..
- Location
- County Durham
rotational injury paragraphs 7&8
You could also ask the doctor why they always leave surgical tools in people
byegad
Legendary Member
- Location
- NE England
Three or four years ago I was pulling a pair of bear trap pedals out from under my bench in the shed. They were tied together by a piece of string and as I pulled them out the string caught on a nail and when it released one of the pedals swung out and hit me just above the eye.
There was a lot of blood and I ended up in casualty.
FIRST Question.
What happened?
Answer.
I hit my head with a bike pedal as I pulled it from under a shelf.
SECOND QUESTION!!!
Were you wearing a helmet
Answer Don't be ****ing stupid!
The nurse practitioner was insistent that I answer the second question and I continued to flatly refuse. This time more politely. In the end a senior nurse and doctor turned up. The same bloody silly question was asked. The same, by now again irate answer was given, at volume and repeatedly.
In the end they saw sense when I asked if I'd pulled a metal box off a shelf and hit my head with it would they have asked the same question? AND Pointed out that cycle helmets did not protect the area above the eye!
'Bike' triggers a knee jerk response of 'Were you wearing a helmet?'
If it's not relevant to your injuries, I hope you all tell them to mind their own business.
There was a lot of blood and I ended up in casualty.
FIRST Question.
What happened?
Answer.
I hit my head with a bike pedal as I pulled it from under a shelf.
SECOND QUESTION!!!
Were you wearing a helmet
Answer Don't be ****ing stupid!
The nurse practitioner was insistent that I answer the second question and I continued to flatly refuse. This time more politely. In the end a senior nurse and doctor turned up. The same bloody silly question was asked. The same, by now again irate answer was given, at volume and repeatedly.
In the end they saw sense when I asked if I'd pulled a metal box off a shelf and hit my head with it would they have asked the same question? AND Pointed out that cycle helmets did not protect the area above the eye!
'Bike' triggers a knee jerk response of 'Were you wearing a helmet?'
If it's not relevant to your injuries, I hope you all tell them to mind their own business.
