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Re: [RC] FW: [RC] head trauma/injury study - Mike LewisI'll add my personal experience to this.I'm Active Duty Air Force, and was commander of troops in a military formation some years ago. I've been a runner for several years, and hit the road pretty hard the weekend prior to Monday morning's Change of Command ceremony/formation. Normally I stay hydrated... not that weekend. Summertime in middle Georgia, plus burning the candle at both ends, got the best of me. Oh, and I rode the horse 15 miles after running on Sunday. Fast forward to Monday morning, standing in formation at the head of the group. Sometime in between the start and finish of the Star Spangled Banner, I lost consciousness and went down. Never saw it coming... felt fine. The result was a basal skull fracture, with brain bleeding when the frontal lobe hit the inside of my skull, 30 minutes of my life that I cannot account for (I woke up IN the emergency room and do not remember the ambulance ride or any details after passing out), and the complete (for 4 months) loss of my senses of taste and smell. Those are VERY slowly coming back, almost back to normal after 4.5 years but may never fully return. The doctor said that another inch in difference where I hit the back of my head may have cost me my life. As it stood, I spent several hours in the ER, 4 days in the ICU, and could have been disqualified from military service (i.e., lost my job and possibility of military retirement) if my neuro tests had come back showing some form of lasting injury. The point is, it only takes ONE fall or throw into something harder than your head to kill you or cause permanent injury. Your life could change in the blink of an eye. For me, the sense of subtle tastes I recall of certain foods still has not returned. Small price to pay. Anyhow, just my $0.02. I won't get on a horse without a helmet. Period. I've seen what damage an unassisted fall from just six feet can do. Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ranelle Rubin" <raneller@xxxxxxx> To: <scswag@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 6:02 PM Subject: RE: [RC] FW: [RC] head trauma/injury study I have heard those who ride motorcycles and horses without helmets called "organ donors".. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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