CPSC Staff Recommends Use of Helmets for Skiers,
Snowboarders to Prevent Head Injuries
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) staff is recommending skiers and
snowboarders wear helmets to help prevent head injuries
from falls and collisions. In a study
released today (pdf format), the CPSC staff concluded
that helmet use by skiers and snowboarders could prevent
or reduce the severity of 44 percent of head injuries to
adults, and 53 percent of head injuries to children under
the age of 15. The proportion of skiing and snowboarding
head injuries is higher in children than in any other age
group.
In 1997, there were 17,500 head injuries associated with
skiing and snowboarding. The CPSC study estimates that
7,700 head injuries -- including 2,600 head injuries to
children -- could be prevented or reduced in severity each
year by using skiing or snowboarding helmets. The study
also shows that helmet use could prevent about 11 skiing-
and snowboarding- related deaths annually.
"We know that helmet use can prevent serious head
injuries in a wide variety of sports and activities,
including bicycling and in-line skating," said CPSC
Chairman Ann Brown. "This study of skiing and
snowboarding shows that helmets can prevent or reduce the
severity of head injuries on the slopes, just as they do
on the streets."
The study of head injuries associated with skiing and
snowboarding was conducted as part of CPSC's ongoing work
to reduce head injuries in a variety of sports and
activities.
In addition to the CPSC staff study, research in other
countries has shown that helmets can help prevent head
injuries to skiers. In Sweden, a national study found that
head injuries among skiers wearing helmets were 50 percent
lower than for skiers not wearing helmets.
According to the National Sporting Goods Association,
nearly 10 million people participate in alpine skiing more
than once each year. Between 1993 and 1997, the number of
people who snowboard increased from 1.8 million to 2.5
million.
The CPSC study found that while overall hospital emergency
room-treated injuries associated with skiing declined
substantially between 1993 and 1997, the number of head
injuries remained relatively constant. During the same
period, snowboarding injuries nearly tripled and the
number of head injuries from snowboarding increased
five-fold.
From 1993 to 1997, the estimated number of hospital
emergency room-treated injuries of all types associated
with skiing declined from 114,400 to 84,200. The injuries
have dropped, in part, because of improvements in ski
equipment, such as redesigned bindings, which have reduced
injuries to the legs. Head injuries were essentially
unchanged at 13,600 in 1993 and 12,700 in 1997. For
snowboarding, hospital emergency room treated injuries
increased from 12,600 in 1993 to 37,600 in 1997. The
number of head injuries associated with snowboarding
increased from 1,000 in 1993 to 5,200 in 1997.
The CPSC recommends wearing helmets specifically designed
for skiing or snowboarding.
Click here to view Safety
Tips for Skiing and Snowboarding.
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