The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Driving home the point that helmets save lives

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Friday, Mar 02, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Driving home the point that helmets save lives

Staff Reporter

Neurosurgeon makes graphic presentation of what brain injury really means "Even pillion riders must wear helmets as they protect the brain"

CHENNAI : Being told that the human brain had the consistency of custard pudding drove home the point about its fragility to an auditorium full of girls at Ethiraj College for Women.

The speaker was neuro-physician and surgeon K. Gireesh who was enlisted to talk to students and National Service Scheme unit members about the importance of wearing a helmet.

The presentation consisted of a series of disturbing images of victims of road traffic accidents, some of whom survived after brain surgery, and others who perished.

Dr Gireesh stressed the importance of taking precautions to avoid accidents, especially on the road. He cited the example of one of his patients who usually always wore a helmet. The one day that he didn't, he had an accident that put him in a coma for 40 days.

Dr Gireesh said that even pillion riders must wear helmets as they protect the brain. He said that in his experience, students have told him they do not wear helmets because they are heavy, likely to get stolen, makes them sweat and causes hair loss.

"If you think hair loss is a problem, you should see the amount of hair patients have after brain surgery," he said.

Abhilash, one of Dr Gireesh's patients, who was involved in an accident a few years ago, spoke to the audience about the ordeal he went through -- six months to recovery. It wasn't just the physical damage, he said. He was also depressed and prone to violent rages.

As a last shot at driving home the point, Dr. Gireesh made volunteers from the audience try out crutches and wheel chairs to sample what life could be like after a head injury.

The programme was organised by the Lions Clubs International Dist 324 - A5 as part of its `For the Consumer Awareness Programme' at Ethiraj College.

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