In the semi distant past there was talk of helmet usage on here and
other sites including a local yahoo group which included heated
debates and passionate feelings. I've written several personal
accounts over the years for various sporting groups including in-
line skating. I've read many articles with "statistics" including
the ones from other countries shaking my head the whole time.
Nearly any stats can be manipulated to read almost any way. I don't
post this to change anyone's minds on anything. Simply put my real
life facts work a lot better for me than reading what specific goal
(s) minded article writers have to say. Here is mine summed up.

Prior to wearing helmets I wound up on several stretchers, ambulance
rides (once with sirens), and expensive ER visits with MRI follow
ups for possibly the rest of my life. There have been very
expensive daily meds. All due to head injuries. I lost my
photographic memory and have even seen my own skull. I nearly bled
to death once from a head injury. Concussions can be extremely
painful as are stitches, sutures, ripping off scabs, and losing 1/3
of the skin on your face. I flunked my first college midterm
because of the never ending headaches. They were so painful my eyes
swelled shut and watered. I could not see the questions on the
exam.

Since I have started wearing helmets not one stretcher, ER, skin
loss, or
ambulance ride due to head injuries. Not even a concussion. As
those close to me will tell you it has neither been from a lack of
trying nor less accidents, or falls not being just as bad as my
previous ones. Instead more sports, greater speeds, and more
dangers. In 2/05 I cracked my helmet nearly in half and never even
knew I hit my head. That was off a mt. bike at 21 mph on a paved
road. Every head crash with a helmet has let me pop back up and
continue on my sport right away. Prior was never the case.

~Renee Coffman