Parting Shot — 10/19/06

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Shawn Wilcox, 17, was riding his bike across 4th St. in Coeur d’Alene back in August when he was struck by a car going 30 miles per hour. He was tossed like a rag doll and he came down head first on the sidewalk. The right side of his head was smashed, an ear drum burst and his leg was severely fractured. He was not wearing a helmet. A retired nurse was nearby and saved his life with CPR. Neurosurgeons pieced his head back together with a metal plate. Although he’s still healing and acts like a healthy teenager in many ways, his life is changed forever by the head injury. He will have frequent headaches for the rest of his life. Doctors say he will have cognitive impairments, hearing loss and problems with memory and vision from the massive blow the head. If he had been wearing a helmet, it likely would have cushioned the blow to his cranium resulting in less severe injuries. Wear a helmet, says Wilcox. He promises to wear one from now on — Jesse Tinsley /Video Journal.

Question: Do you know of someone who has been severely injured or killed because s/he wasn’t wearing a bicycle or motorcycle helmet?