Helmets for Skiers and Boarders

Skiing has evolved into a faster sport than it was 10 years ago, and snowboarding has become very popular. As a result, more skiers and boarders protect themselves by wearing a helmet. During the mid to late1990s, ski helmet sales increased 10-fold in six years. It is no longer as rare to see people wearing helmets on the slopes as it was even a couple of years ago.

Serious head injuries account for less than three per cent of total injuries among skiers and snowboarders, yet they are the leading cause of death, and the injuries can have lifelong consequences.

A study of skiers treated for head injuries at a Colorado trauma centre was published in the October 2002 issue of The Journal of Trauma. It found that collisions with trees were the most common cause of head injury and were responsible for the most severe injuries. Snowboarders were three times more likely to suffer a head injury than skiers.

Helmets for Young and Old

An unhelmeted five-year-old girl was killed when she skied into a tree at Aspen, Colorado in the spring of 2001. One month later, a helmeted five-year old boy had a similar crash in the same area survived with a dented helmet and a concussion.

The day after the second incident, the Aspen Highlands Skiing Company mandated that all children six and under at its ski school must wear helmets. In the 2002-2003 season the requirement was extended to age 12. In September 2002, the National Ski Areas Association launched its 'Lids On Kids' Web site to promote ski helmets and slope safety education (www.lidsonkids.org).

In Norway and Finnish Lapland, ski resorts provide helmets for children up to the age of seven. In Sweden, helmets are given to children up to the age of 11.

Over the past year or two, operators in Canada have begun to rent helmets, usually for around five or six dollars a day, and some require children to wear helmets for classes. Most require people entering the half-pipe to wear a helmet. The Canadian Ski Patrol strongly supports the use of helmets by children and by all snow sliders participating in competitive events.

The recent surge in helmet use on Canadian ski hills is reflected in all age groups. Today's ski helmets are so light, comfortable and stylish that many skiers consider them not only a safety device but also a fashion accessory.

Parents must teach by example. If they want their children to wear a helmet and ski safely, they should do the same. It's also important for professional skiers and boarders to set a good role model by wearing helmets.

The older you get, the harder it is to recover from a concussion. Increasingly, research is discovering long-term effects from head injuries. For example, a study by the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, published in the May 2003 issue of Neurology, linked head injuries to Parkinson's disease. Just one head injury can quadruple a person's risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Symptoms started an average of 20 years after the incident.

Helmets Don't Replace Personal Responsibility

Wearing a helmet can prevent or reduce the severity of a head injury. However, a helmet does not make a speeding skier or hotdogging boarder immune from disaster. Most helmets are designed protect from a direct blow to the head at 20 km/h (12 mph) or slower.

Never think you can take more risks because you have a helmet on and therefore are protected. Always ski responsibly and within your ability. Even if you are a good skier, skill alone will not prevent a crash if the skier behind you loses control.