Helmetless motorcycle rides in Thailand puts lives at risk (video)

Accidents involving motorcycle rides, especially those involving head injuries, are a common cause of work for neurosurgeons. This unfortunate reality is being addressed by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (THPF) which invited neurosurgeon, Pracha Panyaprakitti, to share his experiences and encourage preventative measures.

One case involved a Chiang Mai resident who took a routine motorcycle ride to the market without wearing a helmet. An unexpected collision took place, causing his vehicle to veer off the road, his skull striking a wooden stake. Despite the skull being a robust bone, the severe impact caused it to crack and bleed, requiring immediate medical intervention.

Another instance concerned a 35 year old foreign tourist who took a motorcycle ride whilst visiting Chiang Mai. The jovial holiday mood and short travel distance prompted him to forgo a helmet, a decision that led to a catastrophic accident.

His skull cracked, putting pressure on his brain and causing internal bleeding. The tourist needed urgent surgery to lift the bone and clean the injury. The patient has since recovered and continues to visit Thailand, but he has vowed never to ride a motorcycle without a helmet again.

The final case involved a 73 year old tourist who had a minor accident when he took a motorcycle ride without a helmet. Though he initially experienced mild headaches, he dismissed them as insignificant and didn’t seek medical attention. As his headache worsened, he finally visited a hospital where a CT scan revealed internal bleeding beneath the brain’s membrane.

Dr Pracha explained that in such cases, the blood seepage happens gradually, tricking the patient into thinking they are not seriously injured. Sometimes, victims may experience dizziness or behavioural changes within a month after the accident. Therefore, accident victims and their close ones must monitor their symptoms, especially if they were not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. In case of any such symptoms, immediate medical attention should be sought.

From these three cases, a common and valuable lesson emerges: helmetless motorcycle rides put people at high risk of severe injuries or even death from accidents. Furthermore, accidents often happen close to home, aligning with data showing that accidents typically occur within five kilometres of one’s residence.

In light of this, the THPF urges all motorcyclists to always put a helmet on before riding, regardless of the distance travelled or whether they are the driver or passenger. This plea extends to their safety and the well-being of their loved ones.