Actress Natasha Richardson was injured in a skiing accident

[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.

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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.

[blue]

Lets not turn the death of a magnificent actress into a helmet debate.

My thoughts and prayers to her husband, family and friends.

[carole]

Blue i don't think either myself or Richard were trying to debate about helmets, merely mentioning the significance of them , and just how important they are, we all have the deepest sympathy for Natasha Richardson and her family,there is alway's a lesson learn't from every tragedy i think, very sad indeed.

[RICHARD]

Here in Cah lee fuh nee ah we do have a helmet law.

I do think that people should be given the freedom to choose, but with the caveat that you carry insurance if you want to participate in sports/actvities that may lead to a head injury.

Brain and head injuries are devastating to the injured and families.

It's a very sad thing to watch people in hospital beds that have been hurt and cannot care for themselves anymore.

It should be a personal choice and people should be aware of the possible consequences!

[carole]

I kind of agree with you,but human beings are such a silly species, and I think it is best we have the choice made for us about helmets, i like it that we have made it law for bicycles and helmets here,there are alway's going to be others who will disregard the law anyhow.

We better be careful not to turn this into a debate Richard my friend, again my sympathies to the family.