Helmets: when they count.

[Cannonball]

This could have been a post in the recent Dealing with This Season's Conditions Thread or in any of the recent skier death threads. But I thought I'd start a new one.

With every skier death this year the conversation inevitably turns to "were they wearing a helmet?" and then eventually to "see, helmets won't save you". This weekend I had 2 family members end days with serious crashes and blows to the head. In both cases their helmet use resulted in a tough learning experience that they walked away from.....rather than something significantly more serious. The lesson (or conformation really) for me was that that it's the non-death/non-serious stats that don't make the news and don't get talked about but that are the most important ones.

It's SOLID out there. Be safe.

 

[skiersleft]

This could have been a post in the recent Dealing with This Season's Conditions Thread or in any of the recent skier death threads. But I thought I'd start a new one.

With every skier death this year the conversation inevitably turns to "were they wearing a helmet?" and then eventually to "see, helmets won't save you". This weekend I had 2 family members end days with serious crashes and blows to the head. In both cases their helmet use resulted in a tough learning experience that they walked away from.....rather than something significantly more serious. The lesson (or conformation really) for me was that that it's the non-death/non-serious stats that don't make the news and don't get talked about but that are the most important ones.

It's SOLID out there. Be safe.

Wait for it. In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..........

 

[Nick]

I think helmets work in some situations. Yeah, they won't miraculously protect you from all harm. it's not a friggen force field. But I don't think you can deny that two identical skiers who whack their heads on ice, everything else being the same, one with a helmet and one without, the one without will have a much better chance of reduced injury.

 

[thetrailboss]

Helmets do work in situations that they are designed for: which is skier/rider versus snow/ice contact at relatively low speeds (something like 13 mph). Anything else depends.

 

[BenedictGomez]

This again?

How about we just sum up the generally agreed upon thoughts from the other 4,582 threads?

1) Odds are that if a crash is extreme enough to result in death, a helmet likely wont save a life
2) Helmet use can either completely prevent, or at least make less severe, numerous other non-fatal accidents
3) There are really no substantial disadvantages to wearing a helmet (better safe than sorry)
4) Helmets do not make an individual invincible

 

[Cannonball]

Helmets do work in situations that they are designed for: which is skier/rider versus snow/ice contact at relatively low speeds (something like 13 mph). Anything else depends.

Yup. One of the incidents was a beginner on a flat a trail at low speed. Impact was enough to make him loose ~15 minutes of short-term memory. Second incident was rider going ~35MPH (AlpineReplay running in his pocket) with helmet to ice impact at that speed. Glad to see helmets in both cases.

PS: I didn't realize that BG and all other posters had reached a scientific consensus on discussing injuries and helmets over the course of 4,582 threads. Had I known I would have refrained from posting a first-hand experience. It's good to know that the research is complete, case closed, and nothing more can be learned.

 

[thetrailboss]

Helmet threads are a recurring thread, but posting anecdotes from your own experience is fine (at least I don't see anything wrong with it).

 

[Nick]

Helmet threads are a recurring thread, but posting anecdotes from your own experience is fine (at least I don't see anything wrong with it).

Its fine, yeah its heated but a totally fair topic

 

[witch hobble]

Just because there is a helmet protecting you, or a companion, on the run that you are currently skiing, in your immediate environment, does not mean that there are not heads concussing or exploding on ski trails all over the world, filling ambulances and emergency rooms. :-o

 

[thetrailboss]

Just because there is a helmet protecting you, or a companion, on the run that you are currently skiing, in your immediate environment, does not mean that there are not heads concussing or exploding on ski trails all over the world, filling ambulances and emergency rooms. :-o

Heads exploding? :blink: Whoa, that sounds intense. Not sure if a helmet will protect against that. :lol:

 

[skiersleft]

Just because there is a helmet protecting you, or a companion, on the run that you are currently skiing, in your immediate environment, does not mean that there are not heads concussing or exploding on ski trails all over the world, filling ambulances and emergency rooms. :-o

Head Explosion? WTF?

 

[witch hobble]

Alright people. That was a climate change allegory wrapped in a helmet thread. Sorry for the attempt. I'll revert back to fart jokes and pop culture references now.

 

[Scruffy]

Let me ask you guys a question. What's the difference, except for speed, with respect to relevance to injury between skiing and helmet use and motorcycles and helmets?

 

[Nick]

Alright people. That was a climate change allegory wrapped in a helmet thread. Sorry for the attempt. I'll revert back to fart jokes and pop culture references now.

Smart

 

[BenedictGomez]

PS: I didn't realize that BG and all other posters had reached a scientific consensus on discussing injuries and helmets over the course of 4,582 threads.

Sorry if that comment sounded DB'ish, I was just summarizing since it seems this topic has come up a zillion times in the last few months.

 

[speden]

Let me ask you guys a question. What's the difference, except for speed, with respect to relevance to injury between skiing and helmet use and motorcycles and helmets?

Motorcyclists can be hit or cut off by cars, which are much bigger in mass and volume than them, and cars often don't see motorcyclists.

Most street bikes are heavy (hundreds of pounds) compared to lightweight skis, so unless it's a low side sliding crash, you will get thrown off or down with considerable force, with a good chance of your head meeting the pavement.

Bikers don't have soft snow to crash on, but instead are surrounded by hard surfaces to hit their head on, like the pavement, concrete curbs, street signs and mailboxes, etc.

Skiers generally ski on an downward inclined surface, so when they crash, the ground kind of falls out of their way, lessening the impact and allowing them to come to a stop more gradually (unless its really steep terrain ) Motorcycles don't usually have that situation.

Motorcycles have to deal with oncoming traffic, which basically doubles the impact speed in a collision. Skiers all ski in the same direction (more or less ).

And average speeds are way higher on a motorcycle, at least when I'm controlling the throttle.

 

[Scruffy]

Motorcyclists can be hit or cut off by cars, which are much bigger in mass and volume than them, and cars often don't see motorcyclists.

Most street bikes are heavy (hundreds of pounds) compared to lightweight skis, so unless it's a low side sliding crash, you will get thrown off or down with considerable force, with a good chance of your head meeting the pavement.

Bikers don't have soft snow to crash on, but instead are surrounded by hard surfaces to hit their head on, like the pavement, concrete curbs, street signs and mailboxes, etc.

Skiers generally ski on an downward inclined surface, so when they crash, the ground kind of falls out of their way, lessening the impact and allowing them to come to a stop more gradually (unless its really steep terrain ) Motorcycles don't usually have that situation.

Motorcycles have to deal with oncoming traffic, which basically doubles the impact speed in a collision. Skiers all ski in the same direction (more or less ).

And average speeds are way higher on a motorcycle, at least when I'm controlling the throttle.

All good points. But, the point I was driving at is: helmets have the same limited chance of saving you from severe injury or death on a motorcycle ( or bike for that matter ) as when used for skiing, yet most states require a helmet for motorcycle use and most riders would not consider riding without one. A helmet won't save your from every injury whether bike, motorcycle, or skiing, but why not cover those cases where they to prevent serious injury.

 

[NotEasyBeingGreen]

I've been debating and skiied the last few times without mine. While I prefer the comfort of just a hat and goggles and feel like a total dork with the helmet, I'm going back to the better-safe-than-sorry default position.

 

[snowmonster]

My helmet has saved my noggin twice. Both of them in Casablanca at Saddleback. The first was in Casablanca 1 where I lost my balance on a steep pitch and I fell backwards. I hit the back of my head solidly on the hardpack. If I didn't have a helmet, I probably would have blacked out. The second incident was a day later in Casablanca 4. It was the first year the glades were open and there were still a lot of underbrush and fallen limbs. My ski was caught underneath something and I was flipped to the left. The side of my head hit a tree. I double ejected and was shaken up. The tree left a big brown spot on my helmet. If I was just in a cap, I would have taken a direct hit right behind my left ear. So, yeah, I think helmets count but that's my own personal opinion. I invested too much time and money for what's between my ears. It's my living. I have to protect my investment. I'm considering a padded vest too to protect my rib cage and spine. Overkill? Perhaps. But, skiing in the woods (which I love) can be risky.

 

[speden]

All good points. But, the point I was driving at is: helmets have the same limited chance of saving you from severe injury or death on a motorcycle ( or bike for that matter ) as when used for skiing, yet most states require a helmet for motorcycle use and most riders would not consider riding without one. A helmet won't save your from every injury whether bike, motorcycle, or skiing, but why not cover those cases where they to prevent serious injury.

I'm not quite following what you're getting at. Are you saying helmets should not be required by law? If so I agree with you, except I think children under 18 should be required to wear them since some parents are too daft to protect their kids, and kids don't usually appreciate the risks they are taking.

For myself I wear a helmet since many impacts are going to be glancing blows rather than direct hits that stop you dead. Some accidents will be direct hits, and those are the ones we hear about. Not much you can do to avoid those except stay on the couch.

Rather than passing helmet laws for low death rate sports like skiing, the legislators should concentrate on car safety. That's where the easily preventable injuries are happening. Smart cars with automatic braking and collision avoidance could keep cars from crashing into each other and into motorcycles. Thousands of lives could be saved there instead of the handful that can be saved by requiring skiing helmets.