David's Story

David Thought His Summer Job Wouldn't Be Back-Breaking Work... He Was Wrong!

Here's His Story...

My Name is David Collins and I live in Georgetown Prince Edward Island.

When I went to work on Friday June 13, 2003, for an evening shift I didn't know that my life would change forever.

I was 16 years old when I was seriously injured at work. On the day that my life changed forever, I started my shift just like I did every other day. I worked in the kitchen of a golf resort as a dishwasher. Late that evening a co-worker and I had to take out the trash to deposit it in an outside dumpster. We had to take a club cart (a larger form of a golf cart, for use by staff) to get to the dumpster. Being teenagers, we couldn't resist a little joy riding. We were doing donuts and then I fell out of the club cart. As I lay on the ground, my co-worker came back around and hit me before he could stop the club cart.

As a result of the accident, I received a burst L1 fracture with spinal and nerve damage. I was paralyzed for some time and spent 1 month in a hospital in Halifax and 3 more months in a hospital in Charlottetown. To date, I have had a total of 13.5 hours of surgery. During those surgeries, the doctors replaced two discs and placed two steel rods in my back that will be there forever.

The doctors told me at first that I would most likely make a complete recovery. However, now they are telling me that it's not looking that great for me.

It's now over a year and a half later and I still go to physiotherapy several times a week and I must do special exercises to help improve the muscles that I'm still able to use.

My accident has also changed my life in many ways. There are many events and activities that I can't participate in now. I am often unable to go out with my friends because I can't walk far. Getting together with them now means that they always need to come to my house or I need to find a drive to their houses.

My school has a hard time accommodating me and the special needs that I now have. In fact, I cannot get to one whole section of the school because I cannot climb stairs without two rails. This means that I must pick my classes according to where they are in the building rather than my interests or learning needs. In two of my classes, I now must use special chairs so that I can be more comfortable and better able to learn.

I am very thankful for my family. They have been a great help in my struggle to get back to where I was before I got hurt at work.

Check out David's Poster...

Health and Safety Awareness Poster - Young Workers

Here is his mother's story...

Health and Safety Awareness Poster - Parents