Should ski patrollers be required to wear helmets???

[4aprice]

I skiied 40 years w/out and the last 4 with a helmet. Not skiing with a helmet would never be an option for me today. .

I agree. Funny thing is I never wore a helmut till a guy I was skiing with in the trees at Solitude Utah turned to me and said "You know you should wear a helmut because you have a wife and kids, I'm single and don't care if I become a vegetable". I could not ski in the trees for the rest of the day and went and bought a helmut that night.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[Moe Ghoul]

If you're repping the mountain, volunteer or paid, you should be wearing a helmet. Personal choice is fine if you're not wearing official garb. No different than a MC traffic cop, they wear a helmet despite state laws or local ordinances. What they do on their off time is their biz.

 

[boston_e]

I also voted no.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Possibly true. But you have to realize also, that a LOT of ski patrollers are volunteers, not paid employees.

No true...volunteer patrollers, are compensated in several ways, not least of which is a seasons pass for themselves and dependents, so many of the same employment rules and benefits apply..Plus they always get the chicks at the bar after the day is done...:wink:

 

[andyzee]

GSS is a gay moron.

 

[Rossi Smash]

It's very interesting that those who choose to wear a helmet, feel they must convince others to do the same. I don't and feel no need to get you to wear a hat or not. Do whatever you are comfortable with. Reminds me of the people outside the airports.....

 

[Moe Ghoul]

If safety is paramount for a resort owner, it should be reflected by it's staff and reps. Helmets overrwhelmingly reduce risk of head injuries. What folks do off the clock or out of uniform is there choice. Actually, I'm kinda surprised WC insurers and OSHA don't require it by now. Maybe some do.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

GSS is a gay moron.

Andy why don't you stop sniffing glue and contribute something..

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

back in '94 on Spring Break, a bunch of us went skiing in VT for the week (stowe, K, Bush etc) my roommate was a beginner skiier and doing pretty good wedge turns on easy greens when he hit some ice, fell, smacked his head and was takend down in the wagon then to the ER with a massive concussion......just takes 1 little bonk and your skiing days could be over or worse...i wear mine religiously....who would ride (road or mtn) without a brainbucket?? not me....even though it dont work so well sometimez...i'll keep the brain i got....

 

[jack97]

I voted yes, it basically sets an example for everyone in the mountain. I would even go so far as ski instructors, again for the same reason. Especially for the later case, most teach noobs and kids, they are the ones that will mostly take a fall and will need that protection.

 

[davidhowland14]

Andy why don't you stop sniffing glue and contribute something..

+1

I voted yes. They represent the mountain. I always find it really funny when people who make stupid (no, I'm not afraid to say it. It's stupid to not wear a helmet) decisions act incredulous when others try to help them make the right decision. On the other hand, by allowing those who don't wear helmets to continue to do so, we're eliminating them from the gene pool. As a previous poster said, Darwinian.

 

[skibumtress]

I do believe in choice. If you choose not to where a helmet, it's your choice. However I DO believe that parents, mountain employees who are on the hill (i.e., ski patrol, ambassadors, etc.) shouold where a helmet. Like I said before, it sets an example.
Yes I do wear a helmet and have fallen on my head a few times, but I KNOW my injury would have been worse if I wasn't wearing my helmet.

 

[bobbutts]

I wear a helmet all the time (even when I'm out for a walk or shopping or sitting here at my desk). Anything to keep the mighty Darwin off my back.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Yep ! if iam the owner of the" bidness"and i'fn i 'm payin them and assuming the risk mgt overheads then they dance by my rules -------------------------

 

[Bumpsis]

I wear a helmet all the time (even when I'm out for a walk or shopping or sitting here at my desk). Anything to keep the mighty Darwin off my back.

Perfect! As was another posting about the helmet heads evangelizing. Between the insults and disdain leveled at non-helmet folk here, this amounts to helmet wearing tyranny.

I voted no. It should be a choice. The main purpose of the ski patrol is to provide a reasonable margin of safetey on the mountain for the skiing/riding public. They not out there to "provide a good example".
As a side note, I have yet to see a ski patrolman get down a mountain in an irrespeonsible manner, yet, I have seen plenty helmet heads ski like abosolute morons, without any regard for their own, much less, others' safety.

On that point, I really do think that wearing a helmet gives people a false sense of security and thus encourages more reckless behaviour.

I'm not suggesting that people shouldn't be wearing helmets, but wearing one doesn't give one the freedom to be reckless. Yet, that's exactly the trend. Studies have been published in peer reviewed science journals that cite higher rate of serious head injuries among skiers and riders despite the increased adoption of ski helmets.

This is primerly due to greater speed and greater risks that people expose themselves to.
These studies cleary show that helmets have a substantial protective effects at lower speeds (up to 15mph). Above that, a helmet is only of limited help. The higher rates of injuries are also attributed to the increase of use of the "non-traditional ski terrain" such as terrain parks, tree skiing, etc.

I do wear a helment when I'm off piste (Mt. Washington, etc.), but I really don't like wearing it when I'm at a ski area. Yet, I feel I'm being forced to wear it only because of inconsiderate helmeted a-holes who think that physical laws no longer apply to them and a anyone not wearing one is a moron anyway.

 

[skidbump]

Helmets and seatbelts are a personal choice in my opinion and if you feel you should not have to wear or use them then it should be you god given right not to do so.If it a mountain policy then iether comply or move along.But i honestly feel it is nobodys business if i do or dont and say pissoff.

 

[billski]

This is an odd discussion to be having without any obvious Patroller participation (I think they all hang at Epic anyways.) All the patrollers I know work their tails off, are overworked and underpaid. They are fairly highly trained not just at rescue, but more important, the more commonplace EMT response. They see the bodily damage every day. Let them chose.

Often patrol are not skiing, but are trailside, with their helmet, jacket and gloves off trying to stabilize another casualty. I spent a couple days tagging along and "skiing" with patrol now and then. It's amazing how little skiing we actually got in. All you need to do is help in a few of these scenarios and listen to the crying, the groaning and sometimes scary silence as the patrol checked neurological vitals. After seeing a few of these I was entirely convinced a helmet was simple common sense.

I recently saw an ad for a east-coast resort, recruiting for a FULL TIME X-ray technician to work in Ski Patrol. I'll let you draw conclusions on the number of "customers" this tech will see every day.

 

[nysskier]

I say it is up to the individual. If it is a mountain policy then the mountain should provide them. I personally hate to have anyone dictate to me what I should and shouldn't do

 

[skibumtress]

seatbelts are a personal choice in my opinion

Sure it's a person choice, but wearing seat belts is a law in most states (if not all). OK, so personal choice to get pulled over, get a ticket, points on you license in some states and pay a hefty fine in some states. Your choice.
This is a pet peeve of mine. Two years ago, my cousin chose to make a choice -- NOT to wear a seat belt, was ejected from his car, killed instantly. His four children, wife, family, friends, etc. lost a wonderful person.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I voted yes, it basically sets an example for everyone in the mountain. I would even go so far as ski instructors, again for the same reason. Especially for the later case, most teach noobs and kids, they are the ones that will mostly take a fall and will need that protection.

Ski instructors should definitely be required to wear helmets as well...along with the people who give tours..it's important..:idea: