And on a more cheerful note . . .

OUCH!  I have always suspected that skateboard development and promotion was secretly funded by the Chiropractor and Physiotherapist Associations.

On a much more serious note, six years ago my youngest son, twenty at the time, for the umpteenth time disregarded my boring advice to always wear a helmet when skateboarding.  He was/is a great young man and an athlete but I guess he was just "at that stage" where parents were to be heard and disregarded.  One day on a downhill slope he encountered a tiny bit of gravel and got launched; landing on his head and fracturing his skull above his left ear.  After several days in hospital waiting to see how much damage the brain bleed would cause and whether he would require brain surgery the neurosurgeon himself attended my son's bedside.  I happened to be there at that time and listened intently as he mercilessly chewed my son's butt off for not wearing a helmet, advised him that he was lucky to be alive or at the very least not permanently paralyzed and finally told him that he would not require surgery as the bleed had stopped and was slowly dissipating.  I was struck about how truly angry he was and understandably so of course.  This lecture caused my son to very uncharacteristically sob with relief and my wife and I certainly became emotional as well.  My son hadn't shown his level of concern to that point, which had caused me to wonder if perhaps he didn't appreciate the danger he could be facing...but of course he had been quietly sick with worry. I remember giving thanks for his good fortune and for having my prayers answered and he certainly got the surgeon's message.  He wears a helmet when cycling without fail and has never been on a skateboard since.  Just imagine how many people there are who have died or who now suffer permanent disabilities because of such a preventable injury.