Wear Your Helmet

One of my best friends from high school was in an accident today. His helmet probably saved his life.

I woke up around 11am this morning to two text messages from the night before. Friend A thought the Netflix stand-up special I’d recommended was hilarious and wanted to tell me right away. Rolling to my side with the phone in one hand I pressed on the message and held, the options popped up and the heart was selected because I thought the same.

Putting the phone down, I got up out of bed and dressed for the day ahead. Walking to the kitchen I said “Good morning” to my mom before opening the refrigerator for breakfast. She replied “Morning” back and after a second or two asked if I could help her outside. Immediately I said “Yes, just give me a little time for breakfast” as I made my oatmeal in a bowl. After a quick breakfast, the outdoor vacuum was stored next to my car in the garage. Then it was time to check my phone once again. It was around 12:30pm and I was surprised to see such a big red number on the screen.

Friend J had group-messaged that he’d been in another bicycle accident, his second of the year. Everyone asked if he was ok, he’d assured us he was with a selfie from the moving ambulance. The paramedics took him to the hospital, so I made my way over to see if the staff would let me in. I arrived as he was being discharged and was happy to see that he was ok with my own eyes. I didn’t ask any questions. I just listened as he talked, and the story made me glad to see him walking.

He was riding on the street when a car hit him from behind going around thirty miles an hour. He doesn’t clearly remember but witnesses said he flew about ten feet through the air before hitting the ground with his head.

Without his helmet to protect him I don’t know if I would have seen him walking out of the hospital today.

Make sure to wear your helmet, and as long as I’m on the subject, wear your seatbelt too.