Heads Up

“Mommy, what kind of funny hat does that man have on?”, said a little girl not far from me.

“Ask, him Sweetie.”

“Mister, is that a space hat you’re wearing?” said the little girl.

“No, it’s a bicycle hat,” I replied.

“Oh, do you ride Citi Bikes like my daddy?

“No, I ride stationary bikes,” I said.

“My daddy rides Citi Bikes to work.  Where do you ride your bike?

“I ride my bike in my apartment,” I replied.

“Then why are you riding the elevator with your bicycle hat on if you ride your bike in your apartment?”

Here I am with my “spaceman” helmet.

That is how my morning began the first day I decided to wear a protective helmet when I walked the streets.  I had taken too many falls and feared hitting my head would be the end of me.

Parkinson’s patients develop postural instability at different times, but generally late Stage 3 or early Stage 4 is accompanied by an increasing risk of falling.  Shortly, after my diagnosis in 2005 I asked doctors how PD folks died.  The frequent reply was that PD patients did not die of PD but rather with PD.  This is perhaps true, but it is also an evasive and convenient answer.  A better answer is that they die from, among other things, falling, choking on food or aspirational pneumonia (the most common reason) all of which is because they have Parkinson’s Disease.  Since most Parkinson’s patients are in their 60’s when diagnosed they also do die of non Parkinson related diseases like cancer and heart disease.

I have found that just an addition of a walking stick encourages people to provide me with a little more clearance.  I can report that the walking stick combined with the space-age looking bicycle helmet makes me look sufficiently different that most people give me a wide berth.  In a previous blog entitled Stumble, Tumble, Trip and Fall I discussed various solutions to the walking problem. I am pleased to say that after over one year of looking at protective head-gear I have found a helmet that seems to fill my need for protecting my head when I am out of the house and at risk of falling while walking.  The best thing about this helmet is I do not feel like I need to own a Harley or join the Tour de France fan club.

The helmet I chose was recommended to me by my physical therapist.   It provides protection to the head and complies with certain U.S. CPSC Safety Standards for Bicycle Helmets for Persons Age 5 and Older.  (Of course, just because you are wearing a helmet does not mean you could not fall and have a severe spinal injury or break your neck.)  This helmet comes in only two colors, white and black, and is lightweight and foldable.  When not in use I can slip it into my backpack.  If you are interested in learning more about it you can find it on the company website here.

Amazon also sells this helmet and you can see it here.

Finally, for disclosure purposes I must emphasize that I am not an expert in head-gear protection.  I have no financial arrangements with either the company that manufactures the helmet nor with Amazon.