WARENESS S TO LOOK OUT FOR
When a person is unable to brace for impact, they do not have a chance to stabilize and protect themselves from the force of impact, which can lead to spinal injuries.
Have you ever thought about how you exit your car? Most of us don’t give it a lot of thought — we just do it. However, as you commute or run errands, you may have noticed many parked drivers fail to check for oncoming traffic, and that includes cars, motorcycles, and bicycles. When this happens, it increases the chance of a dooring, a type of accident that occurs when a person collides with a car door. It happens when a driver suddenly opens their car door without looking and oncoming traffic is unable to react quickly enough and hits the door. In the instance of a bike collision, the result can be deadly for the cyclist. While larger vehicles, such as cars and trucks, are easier to spot from behind with a glance, motorcycles and bicycles tend to be an afterthought. They can be invisible in our peripheral vision, so drivers must pay attention in order to avoid missing any detail on or along the road. In the Netherlands, where bicycles are very common, drivers receive extensive bike awareness training. This training gives them the insight and resources they need to safely navigate streets packed with bikes and other small vehicles, like e-bikes, scooters, and motorcycles. But there is one specific technique in the Dutch driver education program that everyone should take advantage of: opening the car door. Dutch drivers learn to reach for the door handle with their right hand, not their left. When you reach with your right hand (as the driver — it’s the opposite for the right passengers), you are forced to twist your body in such a way that it gives you a better view of the area outside your vehicle. This is designed to increase awareness of vehicles or cyclists coming up from the rear. This incredibly simple action, called the Dutch reach, is credited with saving lives and mitigating accidents. It’s a simple habit that takes no extra time but accomplishes so much! A SIMPLE HABIT THAT SAVES LIVES The ‘Dutch Reach’
Head Injury
There is a significant transfer of energy in a crash that may cause the brain to twist in the skull. Brain cells may be damaged or stretched in the accident, resulting in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI may cause a diminished or altered state of consciousness and an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning. This can be diagnosed using imaging equipment such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Broken Bones
Car accidents can result in broken bones in any part of the body. A person may suffer a broken rib or collarbone as a result of the sudden engagement of the seatbelt stopping mechanism. Broken bones, like arms, legs and ankles, may occur because of the body striking the inside of the vehicle.
GHTS
... CONTINUED FROM COVER
set on one thing: a car. Well, when my birthday that August rolled around, let me tell you what didn’t roll into our driveway.
Needless to say, I was very disappointed, but like any teenager, I accepted it and moved on. And then came Christmas. Lo and behold, sitting in the drive was a very used 1980 burnt orange Ford Bronco. It may have been a little beaten up, but I was thrilled. My generous older brother, who had a little extra money saved up at the time, bought a Pioneer stereo to put in the Bronco so we could blast some tunes while driving all over. Over time, I continued to put it through its paces and even ended up driving it through college. All in all, it was a good truck.
With that, I wish you and your family a happy holiday, and I hope you make some good memories this season.
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