Skateboarders need to wear their helmets

Thank you to Nancy Schmid for her recent letter about the necessity for people to wear helmets while skating at the new skateboard park in Sandpoint.

Catastrophic and life-threatening injuries to the human brain, brain stem and neurological systems cause unimaginable devastation to the families, friends and communities of their survivors. It has been statistically shown that for every such injury at least 10 lives are impacted forever. Additionally, the average cost to the public for lifelong care for a survivor is about $4 million.

To drive by the skate park and see young people skating without a helmet is horrifying. As Ms. Schmid wrote, head trauma is preventable.

Since Idaho does not have a helmet law, I'm not sure if Sandpoint has an enforceable ordinance requiring helmets, but am pretty sure the city's insurance company would insist on compliance. It's just a matter of supervision and consistent rules of safety.

MARIAN BRECKENRIDGE

Sandpoint