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My helmet saved my life on Sunday

Kevin Neville · · Oconomowoc, WI · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 15

Thank you to the OP for posting your story. I'm very glad that you were wearing a helmet.

Personally, I always wear one when leading (trad or sport, getting flipped upside down can happen), and always wear one when standing around at an 'active cliff'. That's pretty much any multi-pitch, and some single-pitch if I know that the rock's unstable and/or there are people moving around above. I don't generally try to "correct" people who have chosen not to wear one, except at the most active of cliffs e.g. Cannon NH.

Phil Esra · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 100

Yikes, thanks for the well-written post. I always have my mine with me, but am probably too casual about wearing it while not on lead.

I'm kind of surprised by the number of people I see not wearing one while out cragging. I feel like that cool/uncool thing got sorted out a long time ago--brains are turning out to be such fragile little flowers (hello NFL...)--but I guess part of that is just that I'm older now.

Rich Farnham · · Nederland, CO · Joined Aug 2002 · Points: 297
Malcolm Daly wrote:The photo makes it look like the blow to the helmet came more from the side than from the top, leading me to think that a lightweight suspended helmet (Elios, Armour, Half Dome, etc) may not have protected you as wel.
Malcolm - I agree about the side impact, and I've wondered the same thing. I climbed in the Ecrin Roc for years, and always wondered how well it would do with a side impact. You are basically counting on the suspension not breaking, and allowing the hard shell to deflect. I prefer the foam.

As to the Scirocco - It didn't fit me very well. The meteor covers my head better, and is plenty light.

Scott Stanko wrote:Glad you are okay Rich! Super scary.
Thanks Scott! Hope the new job is going well!
John C. Dunn · · Worcester, Massachusetts · Joined May 2014 · Points: 10

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Search and Rescue

Result of a 20-30 foot fall on Peyote Power. The outside crack is small and very deceiving.

Helmets save lives....
facebook.com/LVMPDSAR/photo…

Helmets save lives

Helmets save lives

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

I have been hesitating....lots of things save lives. I find it hard to fathom the obsession with helmets and life saving...I really do

one person got hit out of several in the area ? Misfortune I say,, what about the others ? No helmets / and they are fine..

Wear one if you want and don't tell others to wear one

Gwut · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 80

Like wearing a seat belt isn't it. Wear one if you want, don't if you don't.

J. Albers · · Colorado · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 1,926
john strand wrote:I have been hesitating....lots of things save lives. I find it hard to fathom the obsession with helmets and life saving...I really do one person got hit out of several in the area ? Misfortune I say,, what about the others ? No helmets / and they are fine.. Wear one if you want and don't tell others to wear one

Bingo. I wear a helmet when climbing long trad or ice, but never for sport. Its great if you want to wear one all the time, but perhaps some folks should ease back a bit from being judgmental to those who don't wear them for cragging.
Boissal . · · Small Lake, UT · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 1,541
OP wrote:I'm posting here today to add one data point to the discussion [...] my goal in writing this is not to preach to anyone that they should always wear a helmet
second poster wrote:It's a personal choice, though, and I don't rag on my friends that don't wear helmets
Same tone from all the posters after that.
Where's that judgmental stuff you three seem to be reading between the lines?
john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

Helmets save lives..over and over again...you know what saves a lot more lives ?? a good belayer ! one who pays attention and ties a knot in the rope, etc..not climbing on 'crumbly cliffs" as noted above.

J. Serpico · · Saratoga County, NY · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 140
john strand wrote:Helmets save lives..over and over again...you know what saves a lot more lives ?? a good belayer ! one who pays attention and ties a knot in the rope, etc..not climbing on 'crumbly cliffs" as noted above.
Good belayers belay better if they aren't getting hit in the head. A few weeks ago some A-holes tossed about 15lbs of rope and webbing down from a TR setup while I was on lead. My wife was belaying close to the cliff, tied in, and the 15lb bundle came close enough she felt the breeze.

Not saying she wouldn't have a broken neck with a helmet on if it hit her, but I'll take my chances that if it had any hard goods on it, like a biner or two, that she'd have dealt with the impact better with the helmet on. Likewise, if it was just a biner or two, she'd have certainly faired better. Biners hurt, they can make you bleed. Belaying with blood dripping down you face makes belaying harder.
Matt N · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 415

Bike helmets. Motorcycle helmets. There are laws requiring them in some states.
Does everyone object to that also?

I personally wear a helmet whenever leading or climbing multi-pitch.

The only reason I can see for not wearing a helmet is fashion. They are plenty light and breathable.

You're welcome to do as you please, though.

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

The other reason is that i don't want to.. never have and never will.. I believe that helmets can and do sometimes give a false sense of security.

Paul Campbell · · Waukesha, WI · Joined Sep 2007 · Points: 505

John if you don't want to wear a helmet then don't. For some reason you have taken this helmet saving your life thing as a personal attack on your choice not to wear a helmet, when it is actually a true statement about a safety device. A device that is used broadly across multiple sports and is proven to save lives.

No one is taking your choice away not to use the safety device.

Also the statement that wearing a helmet makes you more careless and therefore it is better to NOT wear a helmet like you infer above I completely disagree with. (Edited for harshness)

Ian Stewart · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2010 · Points: 155
john strand wrote:The other reason is that i don't want to.. never have and never will.. I believe that helmets can and do sometimes give a false sense of security.
If you're walking around headbutting things because you're wearing a helmet, you've completely missed the point and likely don't have anything worth protecting with that helmet anyways.
RandyFarris · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 0

Hey Rich, went climbing today with you know who and left my helmet on my head all day long, haven't done that for a while. All I have to say is glade your ok and the best helmet out there is the one thats on your head!

J. Albers · · Colorado · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 1,926
Ian Stewart wrote: If you're walking around headbutting things because you're wearing a helmet, you've completely missed the point and likely don't have anything worth protecting with that helmet anyways.
Stay classy Ian.
J. Serpico · · Saratoga County, NY · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 140
Paul Campbell wrote: Also the statement that wearing a helmet makes you more careless and therefore it is better to NOT wear a helmet like you infer above is the stupidest shit I ever ever heard.
hey, people make the same statements about tying knots in the end of a rope or using a prusik backup on rappel. FWIW, I don't always use a prusik backup, mainly because I'm lazy, not because I think it's safer to not use one. In fact, I only started using one in the last 2 years after climbing for over 15 years. I never died, but doesn't mean I was safer without one.

Just because you haven't taken a head shot too date doesn't mean the helmet is unecessary, or you outsmarted the laws of chance. it just means you are lucky.
Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 974
Paul Campbell wrote:IS PROVEN TO SAVE LIVES. .... Also the statement that wearing a helmet makes you more careless and therefore it is better to NOT wear a helmet like you infer above is the stupidest shit I ever ever heard.
I'm not sure there is data to support your belief that wearing a helmet has been PROVEN to save lives. Would love to see the citations.
ABS in cars doesn't decrease accidents. People drive more aggressively when they have it.

I believe the helmet article cited above references a study from Australia where the implementation of a mandatory bicycle helmet law had no effect on accidents. Might have made it worse, I just can't remember and don't have time t review the article right now. I'll update and edit if I get the chance.
Tug · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 0

I wore a helmet today and it didn't save my life.

Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 974
Tug wrote:I wore a helmet today and it didn't save my life.
Not yet, maybe you need to leave it on. Can't be too safe.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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