Helmets and Tornado Safety

The dramatic and well known scene from the movie "The Wizard of Oz" shows the impact that a tornado can have if one is not protected. Poor Dorothy suffered that head injury nearly 75 years ago! Dorothy was very fortunate! That movie could have ended before it even really began!

Last year on April 27, an outbreak of tornadoes ravaged Alabama and much of the southeast. The media outlets in Alabama have begun a push to get people to wear helmets when they are taking cover from a tornado. It is great to hear they are promoting this life-saving protection! The Birmingham Barons baseball team will be promoting head safety from tornadoes by giving away bicycle helmets. Alabamans are advocating tornado safety!

The University of Alabama in Birmingham Injury Control Research Center in December published a paper promoting the use of helmets during tornado threats and is urging the Centers for Disease Control to include helmets in its tornado preparedness messages. In Jefferson County in Alabama, at least 11 of 21 fatalities on April 27 were from head injuries, the Birmingham News reported.

Here in Oklahoma, Gary has been promoting THIS tornado safety for over 10 years. After the tornado outbreak of May 3, 1999, the number of deaths and trauma due to head injuries made it obvious to him that he had to get the word out about protecting your head and eyes!

So as you review your tornado plan for this spring, make sure it includes a helmet for each person in your family!

News 9 Tornado Safety Tips

Watch the iconic "Wizard of Oz" tornado scene on YouTube