Safety Hats?

Originally posted by Doug.H Originally posted by GK.LaserII  a notion that went out of favour in the rest of the country (and most of europe) about 30 yrs ago.   Really?..... because I wasn't around 30 years ago. In a world that's over populated, maybe it's time to bring back some evolution and go back to only the strong and smart surviving. Not entirely sure if I would still be alive under that scenario but life would certainly be a damn site more interesting.

 

correct me if I'm wrong, you seem to be saying that banging your head against a metal pole could make your life more interesting???.......mmmmm I wonder 

 Do you want to share more with the group?

 

seriously though, Do you really think letting  newbie kids get wacked around the head with a metal pole as a lesson is in anyones best interests.

Once youngsters are used to the boom, wind, ooops gybe thingy then take away the helmets. Kids ain't dumb, they learn a dam sight quicker than you or I. They are natural learners and don't need the threat of injury as an incentive.

 

Edited by GK.LaserII

When i was on my SI course we discussed this. The trainer had a copy of a report (I think it was an RYA one, but i can't find a mention of it on their website) on helmets.

It found that centres that used helmets generally had more head injurys than centres that didn't.

IIRC most of the injurys were from the person being struck in the face, bellow helmet hight. (How many people have you seen get hit in the nose/ears/bottom of the back of the head?)

I wish I could find the numbers to remind my self.

Originally posted by tack'ho Question is of course does the introduction of protective clothing promote risk taking?

Depends what sport.

In sailing, no it doesn't promote risk taking. It does however IMO remove
the tough love education needed in such circumstances to allow the kids
to understand exactly how important it is to pull off a maneuver correctly
(I.E. incorporate body movements sufficient to avoid the boom).

In other sports, yes. When I was dicking about on a BMX a few years ago,
I would only feel comfortable having a go at stunts I knew was highly
unlikely I would pull off, when I had a helmet and some pads on.
Needless to say I'm not very good and got far more injuries than
successes. However, I wouldn't have tried without the pads. So in that
respect the protective gear DID put in me in a more risk taking mind set
in the knowledge that any potential injury was massively reduced.

I think though in that scenario, the risks were very VERY clear! Concrete
is a very obvious punishment for mistakes. Where as in sailing, I don't
think you can respect the dangers until you've found yourself in certain
compromising situations and learnt to deal with them.

Edited by Doug.H

Originally posted by tack'ho Question is of course does the introduction of protective clothing promote risk taking?

I think it might when cycling - there you're constantly weighing up risks. 

But I don't think anyone would actually be likely to stick their head up into the boom's path any more with a helmet than without - it's still an unpleasant experience having your helmeted head bashed, and most bashes aren't as a result of risk-taking, more just inadvertent - such as when our attention is distracted.

Originally posted by turnturtle well generations of kids have gone sailing and learnt to sail without the need for helmets... okay you'll get the occasional accident, I went to A&E once after a clout from an Oppy boom, but nothing serious has been reported to my knowledge.

Originally posted by winging it ...I have done work for schools where the kids have been made to wear them over a certain wind strength.  In this last instance the kids were happier when they had the helmets on.

Presumably the kids were happier wearing them because they were fearful of getting hurt.  But the fact they are offered helmets plants the suggestion that they will get hurt.  As James points out, it doesn't happen often and when it doesm its usually not serious.