Please be safe out there!

[Ironheadziggy76]

I thought I would share my day with you all. I spent most of the day at Vanderbilt Medical Center waiting for my brother to get out of surgery. He had an ATV accident in his front yard a couple of years ago that left him with a few problems. Today he got all of his teeth removed and some plates and loose screws removed from the right side of his face and the roof of his mouth. They trimmed an implant that was protruding slightly that makes up the floor of his right eye socket for his prosthesis eye. They removed a piece of bone that had chipped off and was floating around under his left eye. He has very little vision with the one eye, just enough he can get around in his house and outside in the yard if he stays close.

It just takes a moment of being careless for something very bad to happen. My brother was a very skilled motorcycle rider and racer. But as most wrecks without the proper gear are, this one was bad. When he was life flighted out basically everything between his eyebrows and upper lip was mangled or gone. Through it all he has done very well, I thought that as soon as he came home from the hospital he would commit suicide, but he is hanging in there. That is saying a lot considering he loved being outside hunting, fishing, working on his farm, riding, and his job as a Boilermaker.

Sorry for all the gloom and doom and gory details, but riding season is starting for almost everyone now and I just wanted to tell everyone to be safe. And what can happen if your not. I'm not preaching about wearing a helmet or not wearing one. I think that is a personal decision. I'm just saying watch out for the folks talking on the Cell phones, etc.

Be extra careful until you get the rust knocked off!

[bvail]

Ouch! I hope your brother has a speedy recovery and thank you for the reminder to ride safely.

[Tx White Knight]

You and yours are in my thoughts and prayers

[Mellow]

Very sorry to hear about your brother.

It's tough out there and many times what gets you are things you have no control over. But, we do have control over what gear we wear and how attentive we need to be.

[braindead0]

Don't forget that whatever gear you choose to wear; it may or may not help you at all. We partake in a dangerous activity, and we have to accept the risks associated with it.

It sucks when it happens to you or your family/friends, but it happens. It's good to hear that he's continuing on, hopefully someday he'll be riding again (well, if he wants to).

[Trailace]

Sorry to hear this and I wish him the best.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Thanks all, for the kind words and thoughts. Brother is doing well this morning and will be coming home today. Hopefully he will be in less pain than before. Except for the grief I will be giving him until he gets his dentures.:p I already called him Gumby yesterday when I left.:D

I just want everyone on here to be careful and not start out the new riding season on the wrong foot so to speak. Don't take anything for granted. The Docs said due to the nature of his wreck he didn't think a full face helmet would have helped. He got hit across the bridge of the nose with a bar on the ATV's rack. It was just his time and bad luck. And the big thing, he was careless.

Be safe out there, that's what I'm thinking as I get off here and go get on my bike to enjoy this mid 70's and sunshine day.

[mongo]

Best wishes to your brother. Sometimes you have to tell the gory stuff to get people to pay attention. I agree with you on the helmet being a personal choice (except legal apps.) I also think that way on riding gear ( I own and wear each of 2 different suits for different weather). I know several people that have scars and continually give me grief on wearing riding gear.

[msscull]

Prayers for your brother.

[bvail]

Say V-Star Steve,

I see what appears to be a Cycleport Ultra II Air Mesh suit you are wearing. I have one also and I am very pleased with it. Feel much more secure with it on.

Not trying to hijack the thread, just pointing out what I consider the very best in riding apparel to make the odds a bit better :)

[Tx White Knight]

Say V-Star Steve, I see what appears to be a Cycleport Ultra II Air Mesh suit you are wearing. I have one also and I am very pleased with it. Feel much more secure with it on.:)

You are correct, it may be bulky but it is better that some of the other by a long shot. Like Joe I get to play in bumper to bumper traffic from 80 mph to 20 mph at any given time and it makes me feel a bit better to know I have minimized my risk to road rash.;)
:tent4:

[Mr. Guy]

A friend of mine a few years ago was T-boned by an elderly lady who ran a red light. Nearly every bone below his hips was shattered. He now has titanium pipe in place of both femurs and the lower bones in his left leg. But because he was wearing a leather jacket and pants with boots and helmet, he had almost zero road rash to deal with. The Doc said the boots saved his ankles. The gear wont prevent injuries, but it will lessen them.

Guy

[bvail]

Read the testimonials on the www.motoport.com (Cycleport website). Some of the getoffs are truly amazing with little or no injuries. Firm believer in ATGATT (or at least most of it)...

[Jetfixer]

So sorry to hear about your brother's accident. I'm glad he's ok. Thanks for the heads up on being safe. I wear a helmet 99% of the time, but I do like to get out occasionally without one. I'll definitely keep it to a minimum.