I'm mourning a favourite actress, Natascha Richardson.

As events become known, a simple fall, a refusal to be examined by ski patrol medics led to cerebral bleeding and death.

I've had two major head truamas; I knocked myself cold running into playground equippment as a little boy in Scottsdale.

Years later I suffered a tiny skull fracture flipping my lifeboat.

Both times I had IMMEDIATE medical care.

Both times my thick skull held what intelligence I claim from slipping entirely away.

We all 'tough it out' and we all wake up 20 years later with a elbow that won't work.

Please, if you get in a wreck and medical care of ANY level is there don't play tough or feel embaressed.

And those old head injuries let a M escape from my title and prove my point.

And I read it as "a sad reindeer" thinking that maybe santa´s dead.

+1 on the helmet.

A few years ago, I went over the handlebars on my mountain bike. When the dust settled and all senses were reporting in that nothing was broken, I discovered that my helmet was in two pieces. I still shudder think what might have happened without it.

LW

And PLEASE, listen to the advice of the EMS people on scene and do what they ask/suggest. They get the same (usually poor or no) pay whether you do or don't: their satisfaction is in saving lives. Let them save yours. You'll make them happy.

AMEN! About the paychecks, AND job satisfaction. Besides, chances are, they've actually seen a patient like you before, where usually, it's one's first time with a nice head trauma.

Yes, extremely tragic.

My sister was in a car accident at 16 and among the injuries (not the most serious of them) was head trauma.

At age 35, she began suffering a series of seizures and is now on medication for the rest of her life. Doctors said it is fairly common to begin having seizures many years after a head trauma incurred from sports injuries, falls and car accidents.

Her youth at the time of the accident was key to recovering from severe spinal injury but the brain effect would emerge nearly 20 years later.

Natasha Richardson's death will raise awareness of head injury treatment and that will probably save a few lives.

I will miss her as an actress and feel badly for her family, which includes two kids.

Since my concussion from snowmobiling a week ago I can really relate to the need to wear a helmet. I put off going to the hospital for 2 days and should have went immediately; I can still feel pressure in my forehead and my face is still a little numb but most of the pain is gone thankfully.

I read that concussions can be cumulative, so since the accident I have been remembering all the times I have hit my head and not gone for medical treatment. I have been a very lucky man.

My helmet saved my life.

Mike

My brother was using his step-stool to take get some lumber off his garage rafters. When he stepped up he clanged his noodle on the garage door track. It is one of those 1920's East Coast garages where the track is only about 6 1/2 feet off the ground. Needless to say he was seeing stars. As a matter of fact he had to leave work early that night, he only lasted about two hours. The very next day he and I were in the Big Orange Home Improvement Store. We saw they were selling hard hats sporting the logo of our favorite NFL team. He snatched one up. Now every time he thinks about looking up into the rafters on goes the helmet. He has since bonked his noggin a few times without incident. While it has almost turned into a running gag, it is greatly appreciated when I remind him to put on the helmet.

One thing to add:

It's a morbid topic, but I used the coverage of the Richardson accident to initiate a discussion of "end of life issues" with my family. Often people my age don't think to have these discussions, as we're still young and unlikely to die. A tragedy like this one can help people to realize that even relatively young, healthy people, need to have these discussions. Ending life support for a loved one is a horrible decision to have to make, but it becomes a little easier if you know it's what they woud have wanted.

I let my wife know that if I ever suffer a catastrophic brain injury like this one, I'd be smiling from where ever I was watching as my vital organs were harvested to save the lives of others. I encourage others to make the same decision, though obviously your personal belief system will control.

But please, have the conversation.