Skin Deep with Samatha Altea
If the Helmet Fits, Wear It
On our last ski trip, when my husband said with a glint in his eye at
the top of our favorite double black diamond run, “Hey, let’s
go top to bottom, fast as we can, without stopping,” I didn’t
think too much of it. We’re big skiers, he’s an expert,
I’m a good intermediate and we were both wearing our brand new,
smokin’ ski outfits. A new Killy jacket for me, with matching
color-coordinated wool hat, of course. Pete had just snagged a black
Desente jacket with orange racing stripe… But we were still in
search of the perfect matching hat – so he was wearing his black
one until we found it. We were King and Queen of the hill.
I set off first and before I knew it, I was at the bottom waiting…and
waiting…and waiting. Eventually, the two boys came down to join
me, but Peter had a dazed expression on his face. He’d taken a
very bad tumble at the top of a fairly steep precipice and done a summersault,
landing just before hitting a tree. After a couple of seconds (to get
his bearings), our buddy Adrian helped Pete put his skis back on and
then the two of them made it down to me.
Nothing too dramatic about this scenario – falling is part and
parcel of skiing. Pete seemed a little shook up, but we didn’t
think too much of it and headed to the ski lift. We settled in for the
journey back to the top of the mountain and jovially chatted about what
had happened. “So what happened?” Pete asked, seeming completely
fine and dandy. Adrian, who had seen the whole thing explained again.
“Did my skis fall off?” replied Pete.
“Yeah, mate, remember? I helped you put them on,” replied
Adrian.
Pete looked a bit confused and sat for a second. Then, moments later,
asked again, “So what happened?” Adrian and I both laughed
and thought he was joking, at first. After explaining the circumstances
again, only to hear, yet again, “Aaaah, and so did my skis come
off?” We began to realize that something was wrong.
I headed to the clinic located at the top of the mountain and the guys
there immediately told me to bring my husband in. He’d surely
gotten a concussion. After asking Peter a set of random questions, they
found that he was, for the most part, completely unaware of what had
happened, what month it was, or what he was doing there. Though he did
remember who the president was, with disgust, it was confirmed that
he definitely had a concussion, and perhaps a neck or head injury. Before
we knew it, someone had taken hold of his neck, had put it in a brace,
and lowered him onto a sled – the type we often see while wondering
who the heck and what the heck happened to the person in it –
and then we were swooshing down the mountain to the onsite ER. Fortunately,
Pete’s concussion turned out to be mild, and after a long lecture
about wearing a ski helmet, he was discharged.
In this week’s column, I felt compelled to warn my readers about
being as blasé as we were. At first, I figured that it was too
late in the season, although “better late than never” comes
to mind and, on second thought, I realized that every season has some
kind of sport that requires wearing a protective helmet.
As 70-degree weather bubbles its way into April and May, I know I can’t
wait to get on a bike, rollerblades and skateboard (okay, I made the
skateboard part up). Like winter, there are many spring and summer activities
that suggest wearing a helmet as a safety precaution, but Pete and I
were too proud – and, let’s be honest, vain, to wear one.
Not anymore. It only takes one fall off of a bike or rollerblades on
a beautiful ,windy, Hamptons spring day to really injure yourself. Last
weekend’s experience reminded us that safety always comes first.
Heading to Utah for our last ski trip of the season, Pete immediately
ran out and bought a helmet…no small feat, considering his head
is very large.
In doing so, we learned that, when buying a helmet for any sport, be
sure that it fits snugly, like a second skin. Have someone hold it while
you try to move your head from left to right. If you can’t, and
it feels comfortable, you’ve found your size. Also, sizes vary
by brand and design, so trying a few on is a must.
If this spring you’re itching for outdoor sports, but do us a
favor – no matter what sport you choose, research the appropriate
safety helmet, and don’t keep it under your hat!
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