The Ski Helmet Debate

The other thing I meant to say was that when I started playing cricket, the use of helmets was largely scoffed at. Now it is mandatory for all under-18s to wear them when batting. And most who do continue to wear them as they become over 18. I think the same is likely to happen with ski helmets.

As for Europe or the US being the first to load insurance premiums unless someone wears a lid, my money is still on the States - an openly litigious society (although we're catching up quite quickly in that regard!)

bandit wrote:Trencher, if the insurers take the move 1st, by loading premiums for those not wishing to wear helmets, (or cutting cover for head injuries for non users) then it could push the issue. Way back at the start of 2005, when I was hit by a skier in a European resort, my insurer requested a written statement, which included the helmet wearing Q.

It's a misconception that a litigation happy society would have the strictest safety laws. The power of States law often makes safety progress difficult. For instance, in Minnesota, the wearing of a seat belt is inadmissible in court by State law. Cameras for speeding and traffic lights have been removed because it is argued that the driver can not be positively identified, even though many lives would be saved. As for resorts having liability issues, many States have special laws limiting the liability of resorts. Some states have laws on an individual's liability in the event of an accident skiing, but I don't see that helmet wearing would be an issue.

Not until the non helmeted public becomes insignificant in terms of income, will resorts have helmet policies.

Trencher

I am with Wickers on this ...i like to feel the wind over my scalp..I have a wide parting .. and having skied since 1972 and have taken numerous falls and have seen numerous accidents and whilst I feel that anyone wearing a helmet has the right to do I would like to see the statistics of serious head injuries on the slopes before I make any considered judgement

I wouldn't like to see it become compulsory, if you choose not to protect yourself that's fine by me.
The only statistic that matters to me is one serious head injury to someone I know is too many. Hope it never happens.
I've seen a friend of mine end up with a concussion hitting his head in a fall, that was quite close enough.

I have just seen an article on the Good Ski Guide site, which I think is a bit of an eyeopener. It is not about helmets, but about why the authors feel there are a growing number of accidents whilst in an Alpine environment.

To quote the headline
"After skiing together as a team for more than 50 years Good Ski Guide writers and resort Editors chalked up a hideous First last season - All six team members were hit by other slope users."

The Article is here Good Ski Guide Safety Feature

I appreciate that many collisions result in general body damage, but this is not very likely to be life threatening. It is the head damage which can either kill or affect people for life. I have just read in the printed version of the Good Ski Guide that the Swiss have an annual 70,000 snowsport accidents (yes that was seventy thousand), 10% of which are head injuries. That makes 7000 banged heads a year just in Switzerland. The Swiss have assigned a budget of 2.5 million Francs to run a campaign to try to reduce this.

I cannot vouch for the accuracy of those figures, but they are certainly higher than I would have thought.

As stated by many already, I am not going to try and force those who do not want to wear a helmet to do so, it is their own choice. However, if any information which is posted here helps someone to change their mind, or become aware of some of the increasing dangers, then that has to be a good thing.

I wore a helmet for the first time this year - & actually preferred it to my hat! I tried on quite a few expensive helmets & didn't like any of them. My ears felt too muffled & my head too 'enclosed'. I then tried a cheap one on that had been reduced in price in a high street sports shop & liked it much more (although I did peel the stickers off it). I found that my head didn't itch (which it always does in a hat), my goggle strap stayed in place, & my ears stayed much warmer (but not muffled). Combined with a polar Buff it was ideal.

This year we had just got off a gondola & were putting our skis back on. My young son (who has always worn a helmet) was bending over to adjust a boot buckle when a man standing near him dropped a ski which he had been holding upright. It hit my son on his head, throwing his head forward, but he was unhurt. Had he not had a helmet on, it could have easily resulted in a nasty head wound.

For me, a helmet was more comfortable than a hat & it may one day give me the added bonus of protecting me from a serious head injury. I am, however, always more mindful of breaking a leg than I am of hitting my head :?

Found wearing a helmet this year to be a bit of a bind, every opportunity I had to take it off & let my head breath I took. Helmet off in the cable car, helmet off on the chair lift etc, etc.. probably sounds a bit silly but it became a right pain taking the dam thing off & putting it back on. That said I still felt safer wearing it if not a little uncomfortable.
Must remember to get my hair cut before next trip. :-o

Finn

Like Salski, I'm also more anxious about breaking a leg, especially with two young children to walk to school everyday, but they will mend in time. A serious head injury can have far further reaching consequences.

I was reluctant to get a helmet as I thought it would make me look as if I thought I was a better skier than I am (only a relative novice really), but perhaps that is even more reason for me to get one, as I acknowledge my lack of skill in getting out of tricky situations. I started considering head protection when my husband - with 30 years skiing experience - finally bought one himself.

What finally changed my mind, though, was not an accident or a near miss - it was getting on a chair lift during terrible weather and having my hat knocked off when reaching up for the safety bar. By the time I got to the top the wind chill was at least -20celcius and we were in the middle of a blizzard. Luckily I had a polar buff which I was able to make into a hat until I got down, but it was a pretty miserable experience.

Aside from the safety debate, which I'm not sure will ever be resolved, woolly hats slip around on longer hair leaving you with a big matted tat on your head, and you get all sweaty underneath them. At least a properly fitting helmet doesn't slip around, keeps your goggles in place, can have better ventilation than a hat, and won't fall off on the chair-lift!!

Result: A lovely new helmet for Christmas this year. Just need to book the holiday now!!