Singing the Brain Bucket Blues

I have just read Mike Skvorzov’s article (Editorial Pages, June 2), “Singin’ the Old Brain-Bucket Blues.” He writes well. I was heartened to see a motorcyclist, who formerly attended anti-helmet rallies and espoused anti-helmet slogans, begin to change his mind.

I was touched by his concern for his son’s safety and his attempts to reconcile that concern with his earlier convictions.

There are 5,000 motorcyclists killed in the United States each year; 900 are Californians; 26 are Nebraskans. Countless numbers are maimed for life. Seventy percent of all motorcycle deaths are due to head injuries.

As an anesthesiologist at a hospital that receives a lot of trauma cases, I have had my fill of motorcycle carnage. The young, broken bodies and the crying, despairing families are very difficult to witness.

I have been trying unsuccessfully for two years to get a helmet law passed in Nebraska. There has been a lot of resistance from the vocal minority, the motorcyclists. They need to see what happens in the operating room. They need to read Skvorzov’s article. They need to change their minds too.

JAMES L. MANION MD

Omaha, Neb.