Litigation

Head Injury A Growing Problem in Skiing and Snowboarding

By Michael Kaplen

A review published in the journal Injury Prevention concludes that head and spinal injuries are on the rise as a result of skiing and snowboard accidents.  The authors conclude that faster speeds and complicated maneuvers are leading to more head and spine injuries among downhill skiers and snowboarders.

While injuries in general are declining in these two sports, head injury continues to rise.

Helmet use is associated with a 22 percent to 60 percent reduction in head injury risk, but helmets are not being used by the majority of those on the slopes. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that half of head injuries on the slopes could be prevented by helmets, but a survey of several United States ski resorts found that helmets were worn by just one in eight skiers and snowboarders. Notably, the most-skilled athletes were most likely to wear a helmet.

Although there has been some speculation that helmets may increase the odds of spinal injury in children, the new review cites three studies showing that helmets do not raise such a risk. It is true that many parents buy helmets too big, so that kids will grow into them; a poorly fitted helmet offers less protection, impeding vision and muffling hearing. Although more study is needed, the review authors conclude that the benefits of helmet use in preventing serious head injury far outweigh any risk.

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on December 05, 2007 (boomark / email).