Bryan frequently went to his friend’s house where he would join several other boys riding their ATVs during the afternoon. He enjoyed that and often talked about how much fun he had. One evening after giving Bryan permission to spend the night at his friend’s house, we received the phone call every parent dreads. We were told Bryan had been in an accident and was being rushed to the hospital.
When we arrived, hospital personnel were wheeling him into one of the emergency rooms. Shortly thereafter, doctors told us he would require emergency surgery for a head injury along with internal injuries. It felt like the clock had stopped as we waited during the surgery. Finally, we were called in to talk with the surgeon. Although the news was relatively good " Bryan would survive " we were told he’d lost the vision in his left eye. To me, that was devastating news.
Bryan remained in the hospital for more than a week before we could bring him home. His recovery took months and it was hard for him and us to accept the fact he’d never see again out of his left eye. For years afterward, Bryan exhibited behavioral and substance abuse problems. Although I’ll never know for sure, I’ve always suspected his head injury precipitated his bad behavior.
We found out after the accident that Bryan and his friends had been riding their ATVs along a dirt road. As he rode, Bryan’s ATV hit some loose gravel on the side of the road and careened into a culvert and flipped. When he landed, he apparently struck his head on a pile of rocks. It’s a wonder he even survived.
I can’t turn the clock back and undo the damage my son suffered that day. All I can do is share what I learned so someone you care for won’t have to pay the price Bryan did.
First, it’s important to understand ATVs aren’t toys. They can be very powerful and fast, and no one should ride them without first having the proper training. Had I ensured Bryan was trained to ride, this accident might never have occurred. Second, helmets aren’t just for motorcyclists; they’re for ATV riders too. Had Bryan been wearing one, his injuries would have been much less serious and he’d still be able to see out of his left eye. Unfortunately, that’s something he’ll never get back.
Get Smart " Not Hurt
Did you know there is a nationwide organization dedicated to making you the safest and most skillful ATV rider you can be? The All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute can take new riders and train them to handle their ATVs without having to pay the price of bumps, bruises or broken bones in the process. To check into this training, just go online to http://www.atvsafety.org/. There you’ll be able to take an online course, enroll in hands-on training with instructors and watch some entertaining and informative videos.
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