Actress Natasha Richardson was injured in a skiing accident

[pomtzu]

It wouldn't take much of a blow to any part of the head to cause a brain whiplash and bleed. It's amazing how fragile the head and neck really are.

I sneezed and broke my neck, and came within ml of being quadriplegic - or dead. I was fortunate tho - I had 3 major surgeries within a span of 6 months, have titanium rods to hold my vertebrae stable from the base of my skull to between my shoulder blades, was in a neck brace for months, went thru many months of therapy to learn how to walk again, yet still have lasting adverse effects from the whole ordeal. But I'm alive, and it sure beats the alternative! I never would have imagined something so life threatening could happened from something so simple as a sneeze.

I absolutely cringe when I watch the abuse to the head and neck that football players take. Even with their head and neck protection, I'm amazed that there aren't more serious injuries - something I never gave a thought to before my mishap.

Head and neck injuries are definitely nothing to take lightly. What a shame that Natasha didn't seek medical help immediately, even tho she said she was okay. It just may have saved her life.

[Catty1]

Autopsy results


Full Article Here: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/09031...tasha_reaction

Richardson death ruled accident following 'blunt impact to head'

Thu Mar 19, 12:32 PM

SASKATCHEWAN (CBC) - British actress Natasha Richardson's death this week was caused by a blunt impact to the head, according to the New York City medical examiner's office.
ADVERTISEMENT

The agency conducted an autopsy on the actress, who died Wednesday after falling while at Quebec's Mont Tremblant ski resort two days earlier.

Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the office, said Thursday the death was ruled an accident, and the cause of death was an "epidural hematoma due to blunt impact to the head."

An epidural hematoma is a blood clot under the skull caused by a blow to the brain.

The prominent actress sustained what initially appeared to be a benign fall during a private ski lesson on a beginner's slope at Quebec's Mont Tremblant ski resort on Monday afternoon. Though at first she appeared fine, about an hour later Richardson complained of feeling unwell. She was transported to a local hospital by ambulance first before later being transferred to Montreal, where her husband, actor Liam Neeson who had been on a film set in Toronto joined her.

On Tuesday, Richardson was airlifted to New York, where the couple lived with their sons, Micheal and Daniel.

[carole]

How terribly sad and shocking, RIP Natasha, may her family and children find some comfort at this awful time in their lives.

[RICHARD]

And epidural hematoma is a 'bruise' to the surface of the brain. It bleeds and cause the brain to get squeezed in the skull, a subdrual hematoma is an injury to the brain deeper inside.

If she had gone to see a doc they may have had a chance to save her life. Too bad she decided to refuse treatment.

[Vio&Juni]

We live in a small town that is a ski resort. I have been skiing without a helmet years ago and this year, only on the beginner slopes. We have been looking at getting helmets for me and Greg and now, we'll definitely do that. People here wear them basically to protect themselves against collisions with other skiers, I have never thought you need them when you just fall down. I was relying only on my ability to lift my head as I was falling (I only fell once). For poor Natasha Richardson once was enough.

I am so sorry for her and her family. It's so horrible that her two kids will have to grow up without her.

[RICHARD]

We live in a small town that is a ski resort. I have been skiing without a helmet years ago and this year, only on the beginner slopes. We have been looking at getting helmets for me and Greg and now, we'll definitely do that.

Please get helmets.

I have had two M/C crashes that would have severely injured me had I not been wearing a helmet.

A cheap helmet, for any sports activity, is good, if you have the means, PLEASE, PLEASE spend the extra dollars for a good, well fitted 'brain bucket'!

Ask for help when you are fitted with one and if-heaven forbid-you have to rely on your helmet, take it to the dealer and have them check it out or purchase a new one.

Some companies will love to see a helmet that has saved the life of a person and can get some useful data from it. Years ago motorcycle racers who happened to crash were asked to send their helmets back to the factories so they could be studied. Everyone benefits when someone is saved the pain of a long and horrible hospital stay.

---------------

One benefit of this tragedy is that the rules of ski runs/resorts may be changed. In NASCAR racing, a driver who was involved in an accident was allowed to leave the scene and go to his pit area. The rules were changed to
make it MANDATORY for a driver to be escorted by ambulance to an infield medical/hospital area, there they were examined and either released or put into a doctor's care.

Even thought NR was given a private lesson and after her fall, she refused to have any medical attention, hopefully it will be a starting point to change the rules and maybe save someone else the pain of being injured like that.

[carole]

I don't know how other countries stand up in this, but here in NZ you have to wear a helmet on a motorbike and a bicycle, it is the law and you will be fined for both if caught without it.