A True Story of Hashgocha Protis with a Vital, Lifesaving Message!
by Risa Rotman

This story happened only a couple of years ago and all the facts are true.  My eldest son was learning in a yeshiva ketana in the neighborhood at the time.   He had already come home from his long day of learning and suddenly there was knock on the door.  It was a friend and fellow student, informing my son that they needed him back in yeshiva for some particular reason right away.  My son decided to take his younger brother's bike in order to get there faster and probably, also, just for the fun.  In any case, somehow, as he was riding, the front tire became disconnected from the rest of the bike.  Luckily, his friend was close at hand and helped my son back home. 

A trip to the first aid clinic, verified through x-rays that there were no broken bones, B'H, but he was terribly scraped up and swollen.  We were advised to take him to our pediatrician within a few days to see how he was healing.  Once again, he came out with a clean bill of health, although I must admit that he really looked a mess.  When our wonderful doctor heard the details of the accident he rightly told my son off for NOT WEARING A HELMET.

Riding a bike or motorcycle without a helmet is the Number One cause of head injuries. It is also one of the primary sources of death to children.  Forgive me for having forgotten the exact statistics but they are very serious.  I knew all this at the time, but I embarrassingly admit that I was lax.  How many times can I repeat, "Wear your helmet"?  My kids didn't like them anymore than anyone else’s.   They're uncomfortable, they look silly and they never fit.

Going back to our story... At the end of the z’man, this same eldest child decided it was time to buy his own bike, which he actually paid for mostly with his own  money from study prizes etc.  Of course,  there was no question that he would get and wear a helmet.  We were actually lucky because at the time, our community council was selling highly subsidized helmets.  So with bike and helmet and, I might add, front and back lights, my son did travel, but not for long.  

A week or two later. Time: motzaei Shabbos.  My two oldest sons and a friend had been chosen to be junior counselors at the local day camp.  That night, the boys were called in to help set up the camp area.  Enjoying every opportunity to ride his bike, my son strapped on his helmet and was off. 

I'm not  exactly sure how we found out about the accident.  Maybe it was the local Hatzala man (known as Hachovesh) who called us to say that our son had been in a car accident.  My husband went zooming down.  Forgive me if some of the details are a bit muddled but essentially they took my son in an ambulance to the hospital to check for any broken bones or worse.

This is how it happened.  My son was riding down one of the main streets of the neighborhood with helmet, front light and back light.  Suddenly a car pulled out in front of him and made a U-turn without signaling!  (There was a witness).  My son hit the car, flew right over it and landed on his helmet.   It is clear what the outcome would have been had he not been wearing that helmet!  With tremendous Heavenly mercy, he came out of the accident with a minor fracture on his nose and  some more scrapes and cuts to add to the ones from the original accident. 

Hodu LaHashem Ki Tov! Looking back, we see how the first accident actually saved our son's life. And here is the message I wish so strongly to pass on to the readers:  Many times kids want to borrow bikes and I have to put my foot down.  No helmet, no bike

It's too much of a responsibility. 

Parents, please, I beg of you.  Tell your kids my story and enforce the helmet rule: even it is uncomfortable, even if you think you look silly.  Just wear a helmet.  They save lives.

Now is when I get really angry!  How many times have you seen a grown adult riding a bike?  Great exercise!  A clean, healthy way to get around.  But how many times have you seen a man with beard and suit riding a bike with no helmet?  Far too many times. 

How will we ever teach proper bike safety to the kids, if they see adults flaunting the rules of common sense?  Let me plead, beg, demand that any adult riding a bike should never be caught without a helmet on his head.   If  I've managed to convince anyone through the pages of this newspaper the importance of my message, then I will be utterly grateful.