Advocacy & Safety - Bike helmet saves son's life

Joplin, Missouri Survivor: Tornado 'Just One Big Wall' (http://abcnews.go.com/US/joplin-missouri-tornado-survivors-mother-huddles-bathtub-son/story?id=13675466)
By ENJOLI FRANCIS
May 24, 2011

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Mother: Bicycle Helmet Saved Her Son's Life

As the tornado neared her home in Joplin, Natalie Gonzalez ran to the bathroom and huddled in the tub with her 9-year-old son Augie, her puppy and boyfriend....

Gonzalez said that at the last minute, she got her son to put on his bicycle helmet because she'd heard it would protect a child during a hurricane*.

"At one point, the toilet flew up out of the ground and hit my son in the head and me in the back and the bicycle helmet saved his life,"** she said....

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* She heard...? Must be more propaganda from the Helmet-Industrial Complex.
** But for realz, of course, she cannot claim any such thing...

might be a slight exaggeration. I am pretty sure a helmet saved me from a freak but serious injury once. Ran my head right into a truck running light. One thing I know for sure -- that would have hurt without a helmet.

OH gads the anti helmet trolls on this site are going to pounce on this thread.

http://www.saltwaterfishingguides.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Trolling.jpg
...

:innocent:

"At one point, the toilet flew up out of the ground and hit my son in the head and me in the back and the bicycle helmet saved his life," she said. When it appeared that they were in the eye of the storm, Gonzalez said, the three ran from the bathtub and jumped into a ditch.

She said today that she was a little sore but OK.

The devil appears to be in the details. If the flying toilet had sufficient kinetic energy to kill her son by striking him on the noggin, it most certainly would have caused her more than a little soreness.

I'm sorry, but her attestation fails the test of reason.

I can, however, sympathize with her desire to attribute her son's survival to Teh Magic Styrofoam. Having lived through a tornado, I know that those things are chaotic in the extreme, and if one walks away from it, you do so shaking your head and wondering "how the hell did I get out of that?"

Some attribute it to prayers to their deity of choice. Why not attribute it to a Magic Styrofoam Hat? The important thing is the kid is ok, though I'm appalled at the helmet manufacturers for spreading such a viciously dangerous rumor.

No magic helmet force field to save us from hurricanes...? B-b-but she "heard" somewhere that they would protect teh childrenz! :(

Do I have the story correct, the son lived because he had a helmet on; while the mom, puppy and boyfriend are dead because they did not have helmets on?

Do I have the story correct, the son lived because he had a helmet on; while the mom, puppy and boyfriend are dead because they did not have helmets on?

I think, in order to be quoted after the fact, at least mom survived. Apparently the helmet's "Cone of Protection"(tm) at least marginally also protected her. No word on the puppy or the puppy's boyfriend.

I think, in order to be quoted after the fact, at least mom survived. Apparently the helmet's "Cone of Protection"(tm) at least marginally also protected her. No word on the puppy or the puppy's boyfriend.OK, so the magic sheild of the helmet has expanded and not only protects the wearer but also protects those around the wearer.:lol:

OK, so the magic sheild of the helmet has expanded and not only protects the wearer but also protects those around the wearer.:lol:
Only if they have "heard" about the Power of the Magic Shield and Cone of Protection™, and truly Believe.

Do I have the story correct, the son lived because he had a helmet on; while the mom, puppy and boyfriend are dead because they did not have helmets on?

No, read it again.

Do I have the story correct, the son lived because he had a helmet on; while the mom, puppy and boyfriend are dead because they did not have helmets on?

:lol:

The devil appears to be in the details. If the flying toilet had sufficient kinetic energy to kill her son by striking him on the noggin, it most certainly would have caused her more than a little soreness.


Everyone knows that they only test helmets by dropping toilet _seats_ on them, and not entire toilets, and therefore any they offer absolutely zero protection for anything with greater energy.

Even helmet manufacturers admit that.

I can't imagine being beaten/hit with a commode ?

I don't get it -- if someone wants to believe a helmet saved their life, why do so many have to rag on it and all the name calling and accusations fly? It's like other hot issues, why do you care?

I can't imagine being beaten/hit with a commode ?

Ever been through a divorce?

I can't imagine being beaten/hit with a commode ?

right, but on more than on one occasion, when I was both young, and a drunk, I hit my head on a toilet or two when attempting to vomit in it.

Oddly enough, I survived sans-helmet (mind you, my hair was much thicker in those days)

right, but on more than on one occasion, when I was both young, and a drunk, I hit my head on a toilet or two when attempting to vomit in it.

Oddly enough, I survived sans-helmet (mind you, my hair was much thicker in those days)

Yes, but i bet you had a headache in the morning! A helmet could have prevented that! ;-)

Yes, but i bet you had a headache in the morning! A helmet could have prevented that! ;-)

Yup. My head did hurt, but it wasn't the end of the world and I did it to myself. My choice and I wasn't going to complain to anyone about it.

No, read it again.Stick in the mud.:saweeet:

I don't get it -- if someone wants to believe a helmet saved their life, why do so many have to rag on it and all the name calling and accusations fly? It's like other hot issues, why do you care?

because you don't want to place your faith in a false prophet

I don't get it -- if someone wants to believe a helmet saved their life, why do so many have to rag on it and all the name calling and accusations fly? It's like other hot issues, why do you care?

It is like people who rag on other people for not wearing gaudily colored clothing when cycling even when there is no legal requirement to do so.

I bet there was an alligator in that there toilet.

I really don't see how this thread relates to cycling in any way.

I really don't see how this thread relates to cycling in any way.

After the kid was saved by the helmet, he dispersed the funnel of air by riding around it the opposite direction.

Children have been killed by bicycle helmets (http://www.bhsi.org/playgrou.htm) when their parents made them wear them while playing in playground equipment and the kids got the helmet stuck and the strap choked them to death.

Still, I'd say a tornado is a good time to take the risk. I wouldn't expect the helmet to save your life, but it might save one a bump on the head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrFKO2hr62M&feature=related


if only dorothy had been wearing a helmet!

if only dorothy had been wearing a helmet!Her "dream" was caused by a concussion, which a helmet would have done nothing to prevent or reduce. So nothing would have changed.

My theory is that she was high on 'shrooms, though.

Children have been killed by bicycle helmets (http://www.bhsi.org/playgrou.htm) when their parents made them wear them while playing in playground equipment and the kids got the helmet stuck and the strap choked them to death.

Still, I'd say a tornado is a good time to take the risk. I wouldn't expect the helmet to save your life, but it might save one a bump on the head.


The devil appears to be in the details. If the flying toilet had sufficient kinetic energy to kill her son by striking him on the noggin, it most certainly would have caused her more than a little soreness.

I'm sorry, but her attestation fails the test of reason.

I can, however, sympathize with her desire to attribute her son's survival to Teh Magic Styrofoam. Having lived through a tornado, I know that those things are chaotic in the extreme, and if one walks away from it, you do so shaking your head and wondering "how the hell did I get out of that?"

Some attribute it to prayers to their deity of choice. Why not attribute it to a Magic Styrofoam Hat? The important thing is the kid is ok, though I'm appalled at the helmet manufacturers for spreading such a viciously dangerous rumor.


I don't get it -- if someone wants to believe a helmet saved their life, why do so many have to rag on it and all the name calling and accusations fly? It's like other hot issues, why do you care?


I really don't see how this thread relates to cycling in any way.

http://www.bassfishingadvice.com/wp-content/uploads/thrashing-bass-hooked-on-a-jig.jpg

@mconlonx: Well, ok, you're the guy who started the thread, so if you now want to pronounce yourself a troll, go for it. Not something I aspire to, but everybody's gotta have a goal, I guess.

@mconlonx: Well, ok, you're the guy who started the thread, so if you now want to pronounce yourself a troll, go for it.Haha. WIN!

@mconlonx: Well, ok, you're the guy who started the thread, so if you now want to pronounce yourself a troll, go for it. Not something I aspire to, but everybody's gotta have a goal, I guess.

You missed post #4? It's the one right before yours, post #5...