A week ago Faith Clifton, 9, was riding her bicycle in Lebo, her hometown.
At an intersection she was struck by a car. The impact threw the little girl onto the car’s hood, and when it stopped she tumbled off and into a creek bed.
Unconscious, Faith was transported by helicopter to a Topeka hospital, where she was kept overnight for observation.
Miraculously, her injuries were road rash, bumps, bruises and a headache.
They could have been much worse, had she not been wearing a helmet. The helmet had a dent in one side, as well as a couple pieces broken off. Not difficult to imagine what her injuries would have been if she hadn’t been wearing a helmet.
Head injuries very quickly become serious and can lead to lifelong problems. Faith’s was just another case of a helmet intervening to prevent an agonizing outcome.
In Kansas, motorcycle helmets are strongly encouraged, but are legally required only for those age 17 and younger. Bicycle helmets aren’t required by state law.
Whether required or not, a helmet should be the first thing anyone reaches for when the thought comes of going for a ride on a bike or motorcycle.
Cost isn’t a factor. A good bicycle helmet may be purchased for $15 to $20, one more comprehensive for a motorcycle in the $50 range.
Safety is the consideration, whether the rider is 9, 29 or 69.
Just as belting up in an automobile is the smart thing to do, so is slipping on a helmet when the only thing between rider and road are two wheels and a frame.
Faith did. So should everyone.
— Bob Johnson
Donning a helmet can be a life-saver
