Q: Do I really need to wear a helmet while skiing?
A: The deaths of several famous people in recent years have highlighted the point that some of them might still be living if they'd been wearing a helmet. The use of bicycle helmets among cyclists is a good recommendation (and in some states a law) that has resulted in a 70-percent reduction of severe brain injuries, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS).
While helmets are not yet required in most ski areas – and not everyone believes that they should be – there is trend in the ski industry toward the use of helmets. That trend could make helmets mandatory in the future. Here are some of the facts about deaths related to skiing and recommendations about helmets gathered from National Ski Areas Association (NSSA) and AAOS data:
- Each year, an average of 34 people in the United States die from skiing or snowboarding activities.
- Most of those killed are males in their late teens to late 30s, and who were above-average skiers who were skiing at high speed.
- The majority of skiers who were killed while skiing died from brain injuries.
- The most common cause of the fatal injury was running into a fixed object, such as a tree or another person.
- Helmets partially protect a skier from the severe trauma of a collision and can lessen the force of a blow to the head.
- The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends that people wear helmets while they are skiing.
Deaths that occur while skiing are often preventable. One thing there is a consensus on is the fact that people have to exercise the highest degree of responsibility while on the slopes. The NSAA outlines the seven important safety rules for the slopes:
- Stay in control.
- People ahead of you have the right of way.
- Stop in a safe place for you and others.
- When starting downhill or merging, always look uphill and yield to oncoming skiers.
- Use devices to prevent runaway equipment.
- Observe signs and warnings, and stay off closed trails.
- Know how to use the lifts safely.
Skiing is a wonderful sport with lower rates of injury and deaths compared to many other sports. However, it is not without its serious risks. Wearing a helmet could be one way to avoid a ski injury. So, enjoy the snow, consider a helmet, and ski safely! |
