‘The Case for Helmets’ for Motorcyclists

Thank you for your editorial. As a firefighter/paramedic, I all too often see the difference a helmet makes while riding a motorcycle. For the last 10 years, time and again in my personal experience, I have seen too many (primarily young males) lose their lives to a head injury incurred while riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

Sometimes more tragic than the loss of life is the incurrence of a major head injury that causes brain damage. This patient usually requires a great deal of rehabilitation.

I drafted a resolution that was adopted at last years’s California State Firemen’s Assn. annual conference to support mandatory helmet legislation. We are concerned with trauma which has become a major concern of our emergency workload.

WILLIAM KEEN

Sacramento