8 — Wednesday, October 2, 1996 ~ North Shore News Scrutinize Schreck’s NVD run Dear Editor: So former NDP MLA David Schreck is thinking of running fora seat on North Vancouver ‘District Council, Well shucks, after getting pounded like a mute in the last provin- cial election, 1 guess this is all that’s left. Apparently, Mr. Schreck has been thinking of stepping into local pol- itics for quite some time. Perhaps, he should have —- long before becoming Parliamentary Secretary to Premier Glen Clark. The voters of North Vancouver District should take a long hard look at Mr. Schreck’s candidacy -for MLA in North Vancouver-Lonsdale. Personally, I am insult- ed by the manner in which the voters of this province were treated -during the last provincial “election: . on _* Although Mr. Schreck : -must want to distance ’.. himself from these (elec- tion) lies — the fact is he can’t: : Lawrence Barry ‘North Vancouver ° Dear Editor: Re: Brian Plate’s letter, “Law undermines free choice” (Sept. 18 North Shore News). Like Mr. Pratt, I too believe in democracy and personal freedom. And similarly, T found the ministry’s and media’s factual silence regarding mandatory helmet laws suspicious. So [did a little digging and came up with some fascinating, non-anecdotal facts. According to the latest ICBC and Ministry of Transportation stats, the distribution of fatally injured were: drivers 247, passengers 168, pedestrians 76, motorcyclists 26 and cyclists five. True, four of the cyclists were sans helmet, but only three of the five died from head injuries — including the helmeted rider. From Stats Canada come some interesting mortality rates, The records show that in B.C. 17 died falling down stairs, 18 by falling objects, cliffs claimed seven, slipping, tripping or stumbling took six lives, and 18 people per- ished after tumbling from beds or chairs. (“Billy, it’s bedtime. Don’t forget to. brush your teeth and put on your helmet!) Surprisingly, traumatic brain injury statistics are harder to get because governmental agen- Choosing hel cies seem lacking, Luckily, B.C. Head Injury Association’s Joanne Rozenhart was able to assist me with numbers extrapolated from American sources, According to her, 65% are the result of auto- mobile accidents, [5% are workplace related and the remaining 20% assauit, child abuse, wife battery, falling down stairs, skiing, in-line skating, contact sports, diving, ete., etc. with biking in there somewhere. Armed with these figures [’'m sure you'll agree, even if the government does not, that biking is one of the safest things to do with or without a helmet. Of course, for those of you who disagree, Tl expect to see you donning the styrofoam shell whether walking, driving or sleeping — for safety’s sake. For the rest of you remember, Canada is still a democratic country — laws are not carved in stone. So write to your MLA and voice your opinion, only then can ridiculous laws like Bill’ 50 be rescinded and personal freedoms protected. Dennis Creighton North Vancouver More naked truths about shower shock — Dear Editor: In regards to the Sept. 29 article “Woman shocked in shower.” I have to say to her: get over it. I understand her situa- non as T have had a similar situation happen co me. While founging in’ the hot tub of my building | decided “I would rake my swimsuit off before going upstairs and just put my housecoat around me. Well just as 1 removed my swim- suit, the. building security walked in to do their nightly rounds. This fellow did not turn away but continued to stare at me. My husband was still in the hot tub and after the security left we had a good laugh over it. I continue to use the facilities as well as see the fellow daily who caught me in my birthday sult. 1 wouldn’t allow such a situation to determine whether you use © the Lonsdale Ree Centre. Pam sure all was done.to ensure no one used the change. . room, but nothing in life is perfect and mistakes hap- pen. It’s unfortunate but also funny. Lisa Grossholz North Vancouver MAILBOX POLICY:. LETTERS to the editor must “be legible (preferably type- written) and include..your. name, full address and tele- phone number. Submissions can be faxed to 985-2104, : . mets over head cases — Dear Editor: It.is not often that I acknowledge or. respond .to issues pertaining to health and safety, for 1 am_a risk-taker and have paid the consequences for my ctions early. High-risk sports and . “low-risk sports alike have. their own ‘repercussions, and regardless of how much time and effort one spends to _ avoid conflict, Murphy’s faw will apply” To say that a helmet is not neces- sary, or that a helmet is against reli- gion, is only an excuse for people who obviously have. not had to deal with the mysteries of head injury. Te also ‘seems to me that while’, lative, so that pop to the noggin that are only now, in the last three years, being recognized as a serious injury and can promote and induce things like epilepsy and memory loss, Moreover, head injuries are cumu- everyone has been throwing statistics you laughed about over beers with. around regarding deaths versus injuries on bikes and comparing them to cancer and car accidents, no one has friends last week might be the key to | ‘why, after you fall down from your bike next time (looking fashionable as will have to write down all the impor-. ‘tant details about this: letter to ‘the .. editor. ; ae The sorriest part of all this contro- versy is that my Medicare payments are: going to pay for all those people who: can’t) remember ‘why. they ‘’can’r. remember because they wouldn’t wear. a simple helmet... 7." : Jay Krantz - itself at some point. stopped to consider that head injuries’ ever without your helmet on), you North Vancouver’ Easy to cook with and’ easy to clean up. 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