Sunday, July 8, 2012

County Recurrent Summer 2012 Bike Helmet Campaign


LACo OLS Jaro Snopek's Bike Helmet. Courtesy of Jaro.
LACo OL, Nick Sullivan, uses a bike helmet.  Way to go, Nick!  10-4.
  *** County Recurrent Summer 2012 Bike Helmet Campaign *** starts today! 
After noticing at least five (5) LACo Guards (both OL's and OLS') riding their bikes to and from their work locations on the bike path and not wearing helmets, the editorial staff at County Recurrent has decided to lay into these brothers and sisters of ours who we love and respect very much and to encourage them to ALWAYS wear their bike helmets, esp. on the beach bike path. We have all seen or responded to accidents with head injuries on the bike path in Central Section. The same holds true for So. Section. PLEASE wear a bike helmet! One head injury and you are off the beach and not doing what you love. If you wear a helmet (as you should) when snowboarding or skiing, you should be wearing a bicycle helmet. Heck, we will sticker it for you if necessary. 
 X-Ref: Joel Gitelson is going to be lobbied to secure a bicycle helmet deal, perhaps even with the LACo lifeguard logo on it. Heck, we will create the stencil and spray paint it on your helmet! "JUST WEAR IT!" 10-4.
  Also, just in from LACo Chief Lifeguard, Bob Burnside (Ret.) on what he thinks about lifeguards who do not wear bicycle helmets when riding their bikes:

"Well..let me put it this way
1) First.... They are dumb shits if they do not wear helmets, for sure.
2) They set a very bad example for young kids and others by not following accepted safety recommendations.
3) Any bike racer or serious cyclist... ALWAYS wears a helmet.
4) Lifeguards have an image to portray... riding without a helmet sends a clear incorrect message.
5) I will not ski with anyone... if they refuse to wear a ski helmet.
6) I will not bike with anyone... without them wearing a helmet.

....and no  bullshit about..."I need to be able to make a rescue possibly... and the helmet restricts my doing so with a delay."

Finally, you are always on duty as a county lifeguard... and should always set a good a safety profile for the youth and all others... at all times... under all circumstances...  ALL CIRCUMSTANCES!!

In conclusion... I can name many lifeguards... who have seriously injured themselves without bike and ski helmets on....
Speaking from one who has crashed all too many times ...until finally I got the point, years ago."

Bob

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10-4, Chief!  Thanks for telling it like it is! 
 ***   ***   ***
 And just in from L.A. City/LACo Veteran Recurrent/OLS (Ret.), John Thomas, on this same topic:
"WILL:  GREAT COMMENTS AND SOUND ADVICE FROM CHIEF BURNSIDE ON THE HELMET ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO LOB IN MY TWO CENTS FROM THE CHEAP SEATS. MY WIFE, MARIANN, IS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST AT COTTAGE HOSPITAL IN SANTA BARBARA AND OVER THE YEARS HAS TREATED A VERY LONG LIST OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED TBI'S, (TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES) FROM FALLS TAKEN WHILE RIDING BICYCLES, SKATEBOARDS, AND SKIING WITHOUT HELMETS. EVEN A MINOR FALL OF A FEW FEET FROM A BICYCLE CAN RESULT IN A BRAIN INJURY THAT CAN LEAVE A PERSON WITH LIFE LONG PERMANENT DISABILITIES AFFECTING SPEECH AND NEUROLOGICAL MOTOR FUNCTION (WALKING).  ONE SPIN OUT ON THE BIKE PATH AND AN IMPACT WITH THE PAVEMENT,CURB OR OTHER HARD OBJECT CAN SPELL A LIFE OF TRYING TO OVERCOME A CRIPPLING DISABILITY. LIFE IS FULL OF HARD EDGES AND PHYSICS DON'T LIE. ALWAYS TRY TO STACK THE ODDS IN YOUR FAVOR. DOING LESS IS SIMPLY IDIOTIC.

THIS IS NO JOKE. OUR ERRANT LIFEGUARDS SHOULD WISE UP BEFORE THEY GET HURT, POSSIBLY FOREVER.

THANKS WILL

JOHN THOMAS"
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**** Thanks JT!  We really appreciate you stressing the importance of our lifeguards wearing their helmets, aka, "brain buckets"!
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 And here are some additional bike helmets on display and for sale at Helen's Cycles in Santa Monica on Broadway:







 
Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com
"County Recurrent" Bike Helmet


 
 
 
 
   
 
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1 comment:

William Maguire said...

Here is a foldable helmet:

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/bikes-and-biking/bike-accessories/bike-helmets/Foldable-Helmet.html