Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

I just voted NO to MI Motorcycle Helmet Repeal

Patti's Comment:

After seeing this Action Alert from Brain Injury Association of Michigan, I followed the directions to cast my vote. They make it very easy on you to send to the proper representatives. They supply the introduction and you can insert your own personal experiences in the middle before the plea at the end.

Here's my letter in its entirety:

I want to implore you to VOTE NO on H.B. 4008, H.B. 4608, and S.B. 0291 which would repeal Michigan's over 35 year old motorcycle helmet law. Not only am I opposed but over 80% of Michigan voters are opposed.

While some states did repeal their motorcycle helmet laws, two states quickly reinstated theirs when they witnessed the significant increase in deaths and hospitalizations. In every case, the increased hospitalizations led to a significant increase in Medicaid costs. As recently as 2008, Michael L. Prince, Director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning stated that a repeal of Michigan's helmet law would likely cause 30 more fatalities and over $129 million in economic costs. Do you really believe the exaggerated claims of a single issue advocacy group over the research done by numerous key national and state governmental and private agencies who are experts in such matters?

I almost died in a bicycle accident, riding my bike in my neighborhood with my children and their father. I wore a helmet because I wanted to set a good example for my children, but it ended up saving my life! While in the hospital, several of the folks in the trauma unit were there due to injuries related to a motorcycle and they teased me about my serious injuries coming from a seemingly harmless sport. Let me assure you this accident forever changed my life and those of my family forever! We talk about things as BBA (Before Bike Accident) and ABA (After Bike Accident). Our entire financial situation was put on the brink of bankruptcy even though we had excellent health insurance. I hate to think how horrible this could have been for us, and the others that teased me, had we all not had our helmets on. Plus the cost to our state in Medicaid for those with inadequate coverage could just add on to the budget issues we all ready have. Please, reconsider this legislation. It is such a relatively easy thing to do to avoid such unspeakable horrors and costs to Michigan citizens.

This issue is simply common sense AND good public policy. Your initial impression may be to believe that this is a "freedom of choice" issue; however, you must also look at the consequences that result - namely, you are taxing all Michigan taxpayers. The hospitalization and long term care of an injured motorcyclist will be paid by someone - the taxpayer with increased Medicaid costs. And if you believe, a requirement for $20,000 of personal injury insurance will suffice - you are sadly mistaken. It simply is better to be wearing a helmet when riding a motorcycle than not to be. Helmets may not prevent a rider's death or serious injury; however, if they survive, it is an undisputed fact that their injuries including a brain injury will be less severe.

Finally, one of the governor's dashboard measures being touted as showing the effectiveness of government will measures highway traffic deaths. It is beyond me to believe that as a legislator you would purposefully cause this number to increase with your vote to repeal the motorcycle helmet law.

Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek

The letter is sent by email from their site to your Senator and Representative, as well as options to the media. I hope you will join me in this cause!

More information on Brain Injury Assn. of Michigan

Military families are thrust into caregiving roles for severely injured troops

Excerpt from Kansas City Star: (click for entire article)

Since 2001, nearly 6,000 U.S. troops have been killed and more than 42,000 wounded in the two wars. The major cause of combat injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan are explosions. Since 2001, more than 200,000 troops have experienced traumatic brain injuries, the signature wound of the two wars, according to a Department of Defense database. Seriously injured veterans often require lifelong support. Spouses and other family members provide much of their daily care. Thrust into the role of caregiver, many family members sacrifice their own careers and personal goals for this new responsibility.

Former NFL star pushes for youth concussion bill in Missouri Senate

Excerpt from StL Today: (click for entire article)

Former St. Louis Rams linebacker Mike Jones visited the state Capitol Tuesday to testify in support of legislation that would prevent high school athletes from returning to games if they appear to have a concussion or brain injury.

Motorcycle Helmets Help Protect Against Spine Injury

Excerpt from U.S. News.com: (click for entire article)

Motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of spine injuries, says a study that challenges a widely held belief that the weight of motorcycle helmets increases the risk of neck injuries. "We are debunking a popular myth that wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle can be detrimental during a motorcycle crash," study leader Dr. Adil H. Haider, an assistant professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a Hopkins news release.

Fact Finder: Motorcycle Helmet Law Change?

Patti's Comment:  I almost died in a bicycle accident, riding my bike in my neighborhood with my children and their father. I wore a helmet because I wanted to set a good example for my children, but it ended up saving my life! While in the hospital, several of the folks in the trauma unit were there due to injuries related to a motorcycle and they teased me about my serious injuries coming from a seemingly harmless sport.

Let me assure you this accident forever changed my life and those of my family forever!  We talk about things as BBA (Before Bike Accident) and ABA (After Bike Accident). Our entire financial situation was put on the brink of bankruptcy even though we had excellent health insurance. I hate to think how horrible this could have been for us, and the others that teased me, had we all not had our helmets on. Plus the cost to our state in Medicaid for those with inadequate coverage could just add on to the budget issues we all ready have. Please, reconsider this legislation. It is such a relatively easy thing to do to avoid such unspeakable horrors and costs to Michigan citizens.

Excerpt from UpNorthLive.com: (click for entire article)

State Representative Richard LeBlanc (D 18th District) knows a thing or two about riding a motorcycle. "I have been a motorcycle rider since the age of 9 so I've got 43 years of experience under my belt." It's that experience that has lead him to a simple conclusion when it comes to wearing a helmet while riding. He believes "I think it's just a privilege that I should be allowed to exercise."

But right now, under current Michigan law, that privilege is denied. That's something that Representative LeBlanc has been working to change for a while now. He points out "I have introduced helmet legislation since I began my service at the state level so it's been for the past four year. The last bill died when it could not get out of the legislature and onto the Governor's desk."

So what do you think? Should motorcycle riders have the right to choose?

Note:  go to article linked above to vote.

Celebrating the Human Spirit

From Carnival of Care: (click for entire article)

Saturday, March 12, 2011
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Best Western Sterling Inn
Sterling Heights, MI

A special day for survivors of auto accidents and brain injury, and their caregivers.  A joy-filled day of fun, music, food, massages, balloon artists, clowns and more!

Click here for more information from newsletter.

Traumatic Brain Injury News & Information

BrainLine.org:

Links to many resources, articles and services related to brain injury.

Crosby’s Injury Renews Focus On Hits to Head in the N.H.L.

Excerpt from New York Times: (click for entire article)

While Sidney Crosby, one of the N.H.L.’s biggest stars, is recuperating from a concussion that may prevent him from playing in the All-Star Game, some team executives are willing to widen the scope of a rule that bans blindside hits to the head. "...Rule 48, which went into effect this season, penalizes “a lateral or blindside hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact.”

Economic Toll of Traumatic Brain Injury Adds up to $6.8 Billion a Year in Texas

Excerpt from PR Newswire: (click for entire article)

Each year in Texas, traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes an estimated $6.8 billion worth of economic trauma in terms of deaths, emergency room visits, hospitalizations and disability, according to a study commissioned by the CORE Health Foundation. To put that dollar amount in perspective, it equals Coca-Cola's corporate profit for fiscal 2009.

"While this estimate appears large, it is at the low end of the range of costs expected to occur from TBIs in Texas every year," said Eric Makowski, a co-founder and trustee of the Austin-based CORE Health Foundation and immediate past president of the Brain Injury Association of Texas.

The study urges more funding for TBI rehabilitation, research, prevention and education.

"Money does not cure all problems, but when money is spent with a plan and a mission, the results can be significant," said Dennis Borel, board member of the CORE Health Foundation and executive director of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities. "A comprehensive effort to fund future rehabilitation, research, prevention and education programs can have lasting effects for TBI patients, families, medical care providers and society."

As the study notes, the percentage of injury-related productivity loss attributed to TBI (15.7 percent of all cases) is 14 times greater than that associated with spinal cord injuries.

Kids, Head Injuries and the NFL

Excerpt from Huffington Post: (click for entire article)

It was a 1950's version of Friday Night Lights. A Texas high school football game. As a skinny end, it was my job on defense to stop "power sweeps." Offense -- blocking and pass catching -- were my strong suits, if I had any. But this team was eating us up with their end sweeps. The coach hauled me off the bench and said between clenched teeth a version of, "Get in there and knock down their blocking convoys so our defensive backs can tackle the ball carrier!"

Next play, here they came. A big pulling guard running full-tilt lowered his head as I lowered mine and we crashed into each other helmet-to-helmet. It felt like I'd been hit by a locomotive. Stars danced around in my head, jackhammer-like pain throbbed and I couldn't focus my eyes for a bit. The big guard didn't seem to be in very good shape either.

That was then, this is now. Some of the equipment, rules and medical awareness have changed. But the ethos of football has not.

All of this came to mind recently while working another in a series of investigative reports about concussions in sports. Not just in football, but in baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, volleyball, gymnastics and cheerleading. And not just among men and boys, but increasing among girls and women.

The National Institutes of Health has declared that we are in the midst of a "national epidemic" of concussions and other head injuries, especially among the young.