The Importance of Wearing a Helmet

In 2002 more than 23,000 snow sports enthusiasts suffered head injuries on the slopes. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) there is a 40 percent reduction in the risk for head and neck injuries among skiers and snowboarders when a helmet is worn. In 1998, two celebrity ski related deaths brought helmet use and snow sports safety to the forefront of the media. The Bono and Kennedy deaths are common of skier related accidents: the skier or snowboarder slams into a tree, or sometimes another skier, dying of head related injuries.

In 2003, Consumer Reports performed a comprehensive test on all ski and snowboard helmets. They found that the Boeri Range was “Not Acceptable” due to the chinstrap breaking. The one most recommended was the Giro Nine Point Nine at 110 dollars. Another thing to keep in mind when purchasing a helmet is its fit. The Giro is what is known as a short shell, which has soft removable earflaps. If you prefer a full-shell helmet that also covers the ears, Consumer Reports recommended the Leedom Scream for about 130 dollars. This might sound like a lot but it could save your life. The National Ski Areas Association has a website called Lids on Kids and is a cornucopia of information on ski helmets.

Although there is little data on the effectiveness of ski helmets in preventing deaths a group of researches at the Rochester Institute of Technology has estimated that helmets could prevent up to 80 percent of skiing head injuries. Some critics have said that a helmet would not help in the case of a neck injury.

A good rule to follow to help prevent injuries is to not ski near trees or rocks (although I am guilty of this myself but I do where a helmet!) watch out for other skiers or snowboarders and look for a highly rated helmet like the Giro Nine Point Nine or Leedom Scream.

Sites of Interest
Consumer Reports
Lids on Kids
Snell Website (Sets Standards for Helmets)

Stay Fit Skiing!
Andrew Hooge
www.fitskiing.com