Saint Clare's Physician Recognized as Local Hero for Lobbying for Ski Helmet Law
September 8, 2010
Saint Clare’s Health System physician, Dr. Norman San Agustin, was recently featured in an article in Morristown This Week, recognizing himself and his wife, Biba, as local heroes for their two-decade long quest lobbying for a state law requiring downhill skiers under age 18 to wear helmets.
Passage of the helmet law is close to the San Agustins, who started lobbying for it in 1989 following the death of their 12-year-old daughter Nicole in a skiing accident.
“If Nikki had been wearing a helmet, I’m sure she’d be around now…Having gone through our experience, we felt that we needed to do something to avoid any similar tragedies. So what I did is I found out the majority of deaths and serious injuries of skiers were from head trauma. Hence there was an urgent need for skiers to protect themselves with proper helmets,” Dr. San Agustin said.
The New Jersey Senate passed the bill 34-2 on Aug. 23 and it will go to the State Assembly’s Tourism and Gaming Committee in early October and likely before the full Assembly for a vote by the end of October.
To read the fully story in Morristown This Week, please click here.
We are pleased to share this story of how a member of the Saint Clare’s family is bringing about positive change in the community.
