Only an idiot could get hurt....
A not-so-funny thing happened to me on Saturday, something that has made me want to write about a couple of things; one being my own arrogance, stupidity and ignorance, the other being the head.On Saturday morning at or around 7:45, standing on the ice with a group of 10 yr olds, I was helping to instruct a pair of goalies, my back facing ¾ of the ice. As an “adult” with average or above-average skating skills, I had my helmet on my head, but not securely fastened, like a lot of coaches I see on the ice with kids. As is the case, a child (funny enough the smallest on the ice) slipped behind me, and in an instant I was knocked off my skates from behind and crashed to the ice without time to react, my loosely adorned helmet likely no longer even on my head. Half a day later, Catherine picked me up at the hospital and took me home, freshly stitched up, with a monstrosity of a headache, aches a pains all over and feeling sorry for my own stupidity.
It’s been 60 hours now. I failed in my attempt to go to work this morning, the dizziness, nausea and pain too much to bear.
What prompts me to write this is how stupid some of us are. I know that the majority of my friends are saying tsk tsk, they being the ones that know better. But time and time again I walk into arenas and see coaches about on the ice without helmets on – last season I fought with another coach, with whom I was working, to wear a helmet, something he resisted – I, of course being the smarter one Not heeding my own advice, and due to nothing but laziness I am now rebounding from a concussion, minor as it is, however I wouldn’t wish this feeling upon anyone.
Recently, some friends lost their 20 year old child after he sustained a head injury while long board skateboarding, and yet there I stood on the ice with helmet on, but not fastened, and as the doctor said to me, an unfastened helmet is as good as a toque.
I don’t really have a point to this story, but if you’ve read this far and care to know, the same doctor who I quoted above told me that I was lucky to be alive, and having heard that a number if times in my life, this is the one time that I really and truly believe the doctor, and with my experience, not one I would call near-death, but too close for me to argue, I know I will change my ways, and hope that if you know anyone who dares tempt fate on ice, you will share this with them – trust me, a coach with a helmet on looks a lot cooler than a man spurting blood out of his head, or worse a corpse.
posted by G.M. Shier @ Monday, November 01, 2010
2 Comments:
Hi Geoff,
Thanks for sharing your story. If even one person thinks twice and avoids a concussion or worse, it will have been worth it !!!!
Hello Geoff,
A guilty Flames coach here ... Shawn. I'm glad you dodged a serious injury, I know a few Dads that have had concusions and have heard the stats on coaching head injuries. Having said that, I don't do the strap, and worse, last week couldn't find my 'lid' and wore my ball cap. This is a wake up call for me. Thank you as I typically only learn the hard way.
Shawn (Highcastle Hockey, Leaside Flames, and Neil Brothers Foods .... and other teams? No I think that's it!!!)
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