Do Not Remove My Helmet Unless I Have Stopped Breathing

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#1 Unread post by **MrGompers** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:23 pm

I was reading another forum and someone posted this concerning bike accidents.

Many riders put labels on their helmets that say "DO NOT REMOVE MY HELMET UNLESS I HAVE STOPPED BREATHING" because all of the idiot bystanders who think it's important to do.

I've never heard of this before and never seen this sticker on a helmet.

Has anyone else heard of this? Has anyone seen this sticker on a helmet?

Seems like a good idea to me. If you had a neck injury they could snap your spinal cord trying to take off the helmet.

Kibagari · #2 Unread post by **Kibagari** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:01 pm

Yes, I have seen and heard of this. During EMT training, this took up about a half an hour because it's such a serious problem. Many bystanders, who watch movies, think the first thing to do is take off the helmet.

This is a BAD IDEA. Taking off the helmet compromises the C-Spine, which, if moved, can lead to paralysis and/or death. This is why you always see one EMT holding the head.

When you take a helmet off a person laying down, you move their head, and their head DROPS. The ONLY time we were instructed to take a helmet off was if they were NOT BREATHING. Why? Because it is hard to resuscitate a person with a face shield/full-face helmet on. Otherwise, the helmet itself is strapped to the board along with the person and it is not removed. This is actually where modular helmets could be of some help. Since the front of the helmet can be lifted up without removing the helmet and compromising C-Spine.

Use the stickers, they MAY save your life. Or people may think that they're being heroes and take it off anyway.

If you are NOT an EMT and you see an accident, call 911. Stop and make sure that the person, if conscious, is alright, and do NOT, by any means, take the helmet off if you are not a trained professional. That's why EMTs go through rigorous training and are held to HIGH standards by the state and must re-certify every 2 years (in MA).

Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:56 pm

What he said^

My instructer even said to go so far as boarding the pt WITH the helmet on if their airway is patent and their level of awarness is a-okay. The ER doc's can do it safer than on the side of the road.

#4 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:38 pm

I actually have one of those stickers on my old helmet, (I should get a new sticker) Although it says:

..........DANGER! DON"T CAUSE PARALYSIS
.......DO NOT REMOVE HELMET
UNTIL I AM EXAMINED BY A DOCTOR

Loonette · #5 Unread post by **Loonette** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:22 am

Ninja Geoff wrote:What he said^

My instructer even said to go so far as boarding the pt WITH the helmet on if their airway is patent and their level of awarness is a-okay. The ER doc's can do it safer than on the side of the road.

Ditto...

It takes two people, with proper training and understanding of C-spine immobilization, to take off a helmet after a trauma. This includes football helmets as well. So... if you're not trusting the public much, get your sticker. Bystanders want to help, but don't always know the proper thing to do.

Cheers,
Loonette

dean owens · Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:26 pm

this was the biggest reason i read that the no helmet crowd uses when i first started doing my research.

#7 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:19 pm

dean owens wrote:this was the biggest reason i read that the no helmet crowd uses when i first started doing my research.

I'd rather risk having a helmet removed after an accident, than chance the outcome of no protection...

jeremybear · Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:12 am

I've never heard of that before but I think its a wonderful idea.
Does anyone know if anywhere sells them?

#9 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:49 pm

jeremybear wrote:I've never heard of that before but I think its a wonderful idea.
Does anyone know if anywhere sells them?

I got mine from a place called, AppliedGraphics, but you could probaly get your local sticker shop to make some...

NorthernPete · Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:32 pm

I got my sticker from GWRRA. cant hurt having them, although Id better be face down, since its on the back of my lid.