Wearing a seatbelt is a good thing

[Snowflake]

but it is too bad my roomate wasn't. She's in Mexico right now, on a 3 month vacation. On Saturday she was riding in the front seat of a cab, a friend was in the back. A speeding cab lost control when it hit a speed bump and hit them head on. My roomie, not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected through the windshield of the cab, half in and half out.

It is a major miracle she's alive and also that she has no broken bones. She does have some major cuts and muscular trauma. Her entire body is bruised and she had no idea so much blood would cover you from cuts on her forehead.

The hospital was a horror, welcome to Mexico! No gloves and nothing sterile, so she refused to let the 16 year old medical assistant stich her up. They said in the medical record she was a terribly uncooperative patient! Knowing her medical background, she worked in medicine for years, this is no surprise to me.

Fortunately, she has a good friend near the town where she is staying, and he has been an angel arranging many things. The doctor who tended her cab driver (in the hospital in Mexico City with two broken legs for starters) also lives in the town where she is, so he is visiting her daily. The hotel where she is staying is treating her like a queen. She had 3 presciptions and they went and picked them up for her, for the grand sum of $25. Nothing like that here!

She's wrapped up in ace bandages since the doctor is worried about blood clots, she's still bleeding inside apparently (not good). Heart is swollen from the trauma, but the doctor said it was sound and should be normal after about a week. We're talking every day, but with the meds she is on, she sounds very chipper as the drugs are good, and that's good.

A total miracle she survived. Whew!

Anyway, please wear your seatbelts! No matter where you're driving! I always do as a driver and rarely as a passenger, I will now!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Since I learned to drive I've always worn a seatbelt and insisted that everyone else in my car do the same. My parents are still idiots in this regard - it's frustrating.

Hope your friend makes a full recovery.

[Not Afraid]

WOW! Thank GOD she is basically OK. What a place to be in an acident.

I always wear my seatbelt and, to my knowledge, have never driven passengers not wearing one. It's a good habit to have.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I too am a habitual seatbelt wearer. My dad never was, until he got a ticket. "I don't plan on getting into an accident, so why should I?"

A friend of mine got into an accident on a scooter while visiting Bolivia in the middle of nowhere a few years back. Shattered her shoulder and her jaw. By some miracle, she and her sister managed to get to a hospital and she's made an amazing recovery. I wish the same for your friend.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

On Saturday she was riding in the front seat of a cab, a friend was in the back. A speeding cab lost control when it hit a speed bump and hit them head on. My roomie, not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected through the windshield of the cab, half in and half out.


Anyway, please wear your seatbelts! No matter where you're driving! I always do as a driver and rarely as a passenger, I will now!

I'm hoping your roommate wasn't wearing a seat belt because the cab, like so many in San Francisco, did not have one due to vandalism and not because she felt the laws of physics don't apply on Mexican vacations.

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

I'm hoping your roommate wasn't wearing a seat belt because the cab, like so many in San Francisco, did not have one due to vandalism and not because she felt the laws of physics don't apply on Mexican vacations.

No, she nevers wears a seatbelt. As a driver, yes, but never as a passenger. She will now, however, she told me so.

She's been my dearest friend since I was 18 years old and I'm really grateful she's going to be coming back so I can tell her so. She's a trial as a roomate cause I'm such a slob, so I guess I'll be a better roomie when she gets back! ;-)

[Alex]

I'll admit that I rarely wear seatbelts in cabs but otherwise always do. I remember very well the transition when I was a kid and my mom decided that from then on we would wear them.

[katiesue]

Seatbelts used to bother me. In fourth grade a kid in my class was killed from internal injuries caused by his seat belt (it was only a lap belt back in those days).

Once I learned to drive my parents gave me some story about your insurance not being valid if you wern't wearing one (not sure that this was in any way true) so I always made sure I was wearing one.

My best friend got ejected in a rollover accident and died from head trauma. No seatbelt. Her boyfriend who was driving had one on, only broke his arm. The couple in the back seat also wern't wearing belts and had all kinds of severe injuries. That was lesson enough for me.

Snowflake I'm glad your friend will be ok.

[Moonliner]

I grew up in an environment where "only your grandma wears a seatbelt" was the prevailing mentality. I'm still not great about remembering to belt up when I first start the car. Of course it's a different world for my kids. They've had seatbelts from day one and buckling up as soon as they get in the car is as natural as breathing.

In fact the one time I did NOT want my son (age 13) to wear a seatbelt he was anxious and uncomfortable without it. It bodes well for the future.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I grew up well before wearing seatbelts was law, though well after their presence was. I have always worn a seatbelt, and feel very naked in a car without one.

Of course, I also used to sit in the front seat with the shoulder belt behind me until I was tall enough that it didn't go across my face.