ATV - Wear a Helmet! - The Firearms Forum

JohnK3 · 07-02-2007, 03:31 PM

Over the weekend, I took the family out to the deer lease for one of the club's work days. It's usually a big family day, as everybody takes their families out and we end up having a big cookout with lots of bbq, etc.

Jerrica and Katydid took my ATV out for a bit of a ride. Jerrica, 19, did not have a helmet on but Katydid had her horseback riding helmet on.

Thank God she did.

Jerrica was going a bit too fast and hit a rock or log in the road. (We're not sure exactly what she hit, but the front rims are dented.) She ended up flipping the ATV over on its side. Jerrica got bruised and scraped up while Katydid's helmet has a dent in the side that's an exact match for the bars used to make the racks on the front and back of the ATV. They walked about a mile back towards camp before a couple of other members of the club saw them. Jerrica, whose nose bleeds when the weather changes, was covered in blood. Katydid was asking "What happened?" about every five minutes.

When they got back to camp, Stephannie and I immediately took the two girls to St. Francis' emergency room in Columbus, GA. They took CT scans and x-rays of them both. Both girls are fine, but sore. By the time we got them out of the ER, Katydid had stopped asking the question and was starting to remember other activities from earlier in the day. This morning she remembered most of yesterday, just not the accident itself, though she remembers that it did happen.

Jerrica has sworn that she'll never get on an ATV without a helmet again and will go MUCH slower in the future. (She remembers going about 30-35 mph when the ATV flipped.) Katydid, on the other hand, has sworn she'll never get on an ATV behind Jerrica again. [grin]

If you have an ATV or motorcycle, please wear a helmet. If you have kids, make them wear helmets whenever they get on one.

glocknut · 07-02-2007, 03:38 PM

At least they are both ok. Thats the good part.

mike
gn

bunnyhunter12 · 07-02-2007, 06:55 PM

That's good news that they are both okay John. Very good to hear, and thank you for posting this. It will open a lot of eyes.

As for helmets, I have 3; one for motorcycles, one for snowmobiles and one for ATVs, and never ride any distance without one on. I even feel kind of guilty when I ride out the road to my grandmother's house for dinner without a helmet, and that's only 500 yards.

One thing I'd like to add because I feel it important; once a helmet recieves even a moderate blow, consider it useless. This goes for almost any type of helmet used for motorized sports. Upon impact the shell absorbs impact by spreading the energy over the surface of the helmet and fractures in the process. You probably won't be able to see these cracks but they weaken the helmet to the point where it will not protect you the next time. Destroy it and replace it. I say destroy it so that no one will ever be tempted to use it again.

Marlin · 07-02-2007, 07:13 PM

Extremely good advice, BH.

Glad they are alright, John. God bless all of you.

SouthernMoss · 07-02-2007, 08:34 PM

You've gone through every parents' worst nightmare: an injured child. I'm glad both girls are ok.

Pat Hurley · 07-02-2007, 09:16 PM

I rarely wear a helmet when ATV'ing. Your post has given me second thoughts.

Thanks.

Bruce FLinch · 07-03-2007, 10:56 PM

Why do you think they call it a "Brain Bucket" ?

Thunderhawk88 · 07-04-2007, 12:37 AM

Extremely good advice!

About ten years ago, a fellow I knew from church, was killed while riding his quad. He was a nice guy, a teacher at the local High School, and two of my kids had been in his classes. The shock was he wasn't going too fast, he wasn't on a hard trail, and he wasn't on unfamiliar ground. He was riding in his own back yard. He hit a dip in the ground, lost control of the quad, and landed on his head. He WAS NOT wearing a helmet. By the time Paramedics arrived he was already brain-dead.
Never, never, NEVER ride without a helmet!!!!

PaulHD883 · 07-04-2007, 12:45 AM

wow that's scarey. I'm glad they're ok. I've never wore a helmet on an atv either. makes me think twice.

07-02-2007, 03:31 PM	#1
JohnK3 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,636	ATV - Wear a Helmet! Over the weekend, I took the family out to the deer lease for one of the club's work days. It's usually a big family day, as everybody takes their families out and we end up having a big cookout with lots of bbq, etc. Jerrica and Katydid took my ATV out for a bit of a ride. Jerrica, 19, did not have a helmet on but Katydid had her horseback riding helmet on. Thank God she did. Jerrica was going a bit too fast and hit a rock or log in the road. (We're not sure exactly what she hit, but the front rims are dented.) She ended up flipping the ATV over on its side. Jerrica got bruised and scraped up while Katydid's helmet has a dent in the side that's an exact match for the bars used to make the racks on the front and back of the ATV. They walked about a mile back towards camp before a couple of other members of the club saw them. Jerrica, whose nose bleeds when the weather changes, was covered in blood. Katydid was asking "What happened?" about every five minutes. When they got back to camp, Stephannie and I immediately took the two girls to St. Francis' emergency room in Columbus, GA. They took CT scans and x-rays of them both. Both girls are fine, but sore. By the time we got them out of the ER, Katydid had stopped asking the question and was starting to remember other activities from earlier in the day. This morning she remembered most of yesterday, just not the accident itself, though she remembers that it did happen. Jerrica has sworn that she'll never get on an ATV without a helmet again and will go MUCH slower in the future. (She remembers going about 30-35 mph when the ATV flipped.) Katydid, on the other hand, has sworn she'll never get on an ATV behind Jerrica again. [grin] If you have an ATV or motorcycle, please wear a helmet. If you have kids, make them wear helmets whenever they get on one. -->

07-02-2007, 03:38 PM	#2
glocknut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: THE FORUM MASCOTT... Posts: 12,482	Re: ATV - Wear a Helmet! At least they are both ok. Thats the good part. mike gn __________________ Where O where are you tonight? Why have you gone and left me alone? I searched to world over and a thought i found true love... You met another and PTThhh you were gone....

07-02-2007, 06:55 PM	#3
bunnyhunter12 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 1,090	Re: ATV - Wear a Helmet! That's good news that they are both okay John. Very good to hear, and thank you for posting this. It will open a lot of eyes. As for helmets, I have 3; one for motorcycles, one for snowmobiles and one for ATVs, and never ride any distance without one on. I even feel kind of guilty when I ride out the road to my grandmother's house for dinner without a helmet, and that's only 500 yards. One thing I'd like to add because I feel it important; once a helmet recieves even a moderate blow, consider it useless. This goes for almost any type of helmet used for motorized sports. Upon impact the shell absorbs impact by spreading the energy over the surface of the helmet and fractures in the process. You probably won't be able to see these cracks but they weaken the helmet to the point where it will not protect you the next time. Destroy it and replace it. I say destroy it so that no one will ever be tempted to use it again. __________________ Quaerite Prime Regnum Dei~ Official motto of Newfoundland If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government --and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws. -- Edward Abbey in Abbey's Road, p.39 (Plume, 1979) -Smitty

07-02-2007, 07:13 PM	#4
Marlin TFF Admin Staff Chief Counselor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: At SouthernMoss' side forever! Contributor Posts: 13,853	Re: ATV - Wear a Helmet! Extremely good advice, BH. Glad they are alright, John. God bless all of you. __________________ *The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.* *The only criminal class native to the United States is Congress.*

07-02-2007, 08:34 PM	#5
SouthernMoss Admin Tech Staff Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SW MS Contributor Posts: 10,651	Re: ATV - Wear a Helmet! You've gone through every parents' worst nightmare: an injured child. I'm glad both girls are ok. __________________ My Second protects your First "I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand." - Susan B Anthony

07-02-2007, 09:16 PM	#6
Pat Hurley Former Guest Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 987	Re: ATV - Wear a Helmet! I rarely wear a helmet when ATV'ing. Your post has given me second thoughts. Thanks.

07-03-2007, 10:56 PM	#7
Bruce FLinch Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bay Point, Kali..aka Gun Point Posts: 5,016	Re: ATV - Wear a Helmet! Why do you think they call it a "Brain Bucket" ? __________________ A bad day @ the Range, is better than a good day @ work.

07-04-2007, 12:37 AM	#8
Thunderhawk88 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: So. California Desert style.. Posts: 109	Re: ATV - Wear a Helmet! Extremely good advice! About ten years ago, a fellow I knew from church, was killed while riding his quad. He was a nice guy, a teacher at the local High School, and two of my kids had been in his classes. The shock was he wasn't going too fast, he wasn't on a hard trail, and he wasn't on unfamiliar ground. He was riding in his own back yard. He hit a dip in the ground, lost control of the quad, and landed on his head. He WAS NOT wearing a helmet. By the time Paramedics arrived he was already brain-dead. Never, never, NEVER ride without a helmet!!!! __________________

07-04-2007, 12:45 AM	#9
PaulHD883 Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 48	Re: ATV - Wear a Helmet! wow that's scarey. I'm glad they're ok. I've never wore a helmet on an atv either. makes me think twice. __________________ PX4 STORM .40