Skiers and Riders Who Wear Helmets Still Die

[catskills]

I thought the following article from Maine was an interesting read. I don't want to start a long helmet thread but for you pro helmet fans that think Helmets are the ultimate in safety precautions making you and your children invincible, you may want to think again. Yes I agree helmets should be worn. But the value of wearing a helmet is not near as important as other safety precautions like taking ski or ride lessons and being in control at all times. IMHO of course.

Whenever an unfortunate death on the slopes occurs the first question is was a helmet worn. Much later you may hear questions like was everyone involved in the accident skiing/riding in control and did they take appropriate lessons recently.

http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/sports/stories/4681986.html

Quote from article:

"Don't wear a helmet" -- ? That's not at all what I'm saying.

What I'm saying is: Before you plunk down $100 for a helmet, know what you're getting. They provide a scoche head-injury insurance -- not a lot. They may present whiplash risks, especially for children. And they're a pain for rescuers to deal with if you do wipe out.

Put another way, skiers who wear helmets still die in mountain accidents. And so do people who don't.

How's this: Instead of the helmet, make a better investment, for the same price, in an advanced ski school lesson.

 

[andyzee]

I don't want to start a long helmet thread but for you pro helmet fans that think Helmets are the ultimate in safety precautions making you and your children invincible, you may want to think again.

I'm sorry, but a remark such as this one never ceases to amaze me, what is the perception here? People put on a helmet, point there skis down hill, put there heads down and ski into a tree?

I mean, I doubt anyone, or very few, thing they can put on a helmet and be invincible.

 

[andyzee]

I'm sorry, but a remark such as this one never ceases to amaze me, what is the perception here? People put on a helmet, point there skis down hill, put there heads down and ski into a tree?

I mean, I doubt anyone, or very few, thing they can put on a helmet and be invincible.

p.s. Just read the article. Catskills, in no way is this aimed at you, but that is one of the stupidest articles I ever read.

 

[skidbump]

Sorry to burst this bubble but i really don't wear a helmet because of my skiing, i wear it because of the general publics complete disregard for My safety.So if you could convince the majority of the skiing public to at least learn the very basics"including the skiers responsibility code" i would gladly go back to a nice warm comfortable hat.Also convince the ski areas to police the slopes a little"a few yanked lift tickets and some word of mouth may go a long way".

Now with that said i do believe if the law requires a child to wear a helmet to ride a bike then the law should require that same child to wear one while they ski.

I believe as an adult you have the right to not wear one.Be it skiing,biking,snowmobiling,motorcycle riding"dirt or road".No one to my knowledge ever killed or maimed anyone but them selves because they were not wearing one.But I think you would have to be an idiot not to.

 

[catskills]

Sorry to burst this bubble but i really don't wear a helmet because of my skiing, i wear it because of the general publics complete disregard for My safety.So if you could convince the majority of the skiing public to ...........

skibump this is not about you or me. This is about all of us. I agree with your statement about convincing the majority of the skiing public to............ This is exactly the point here. Safety on the slopes is not all about helmets. I agree the article was not well written. What that article does do is get people to think out of the box. Maybe, just maybe, helmets are not the ultimate safety precaution. Maybe its time to put a lot more emphasis on skiing and riding in control, reducing speed on crowded slopes, taking lessons, ................

 

[frozencorn]

Is it foolproof? No.

Can it help? Yes.

Besides that, it's warmer.

Beyond that, it's a personal decision.

 

[skimore]

Sorry to burst this bubble but i really don't wear a helmet because of my skiing, i wear it because of the general publics complete disregard for My safety.were not wearing one

If this reasoning is true, I would reconsider the places I choose to ski

 

[Warp Daddy]

I believe as an adult you have the right to not wear one.Be it skiing,biking,snowmobiling,motorcycle riding"dirt or road".No one to my knowledge ever killed or maimed anyone but them selves because they were not wearing one.But I think you would have to be an idiot not to.[/QUOTE]

Agree! Do whatever you like but its impossible to protect a fool from their destiny

Me i wear one. Its saved me from a few nasty hits i've taken from others and ITS WAY warmer .

 

[Paul]

FTFA:

How's this: Instead of the helmet, make a better investment, for the same price, in an advanced ski school lesson.

Okay, now my take:

How's this: ALONG WITH the helmet, make an investment, for the same price, in an advanced ski school lesson.

There. was that so difficult? I think the presumption that helmet wearers believe that they're invincible is bull. I wear one, I still take just as many precautions as if I didn't. I don't even think about it, its a piece of gear, no different in my mind than gloves, poles, jacket, goggles etc...
If there are people who wear helmets who do believe that they are "invincible" I would guess that most of them are invincible with or without a helmet.
It ain't the gear, its the user.

 

[cbcbd]

Should we also make an article stating that people wearing seatbelts still die? Because I'm pretty sure there have been plenty of cases that support that. Should I just say no to seatbelts and take a driver safety course? No, accidents beyond my control can still happen.

I'm sorry... but to actually write an article against a safety measure? And this guy is a patroller?

 

[tjf67]

I dont care who wears helmets other than the people who Im concerned about.

They do work and they do save against countless injuries.

What I would say is that there should be a standard test to rate helmets as to the effectiveness. That would help me out when choosing a cap.

worn with a liner they are warmer than any hat that I have had.

How about a ski jacket with a hood that can go over the top of the helmet. That would be nice.

 

[danny p]

How about a ski jacket with a hood that can go over the top of the helmet. That would be nice.

i don't know about other brands, but almost all north face jackets have helmet compatible hoods (and they work well).

 

[Warp Daddy]

my Northface and Columbia jackets all have hoods that go over the helmet

 

[LineSki15]

a helmet with a baclava underneath is the best combo!

 

[WJenness]

a helmet with a baclava underneath is the best combo!

As funny as it is to think about someone squishing greek pastry (baclava / baklava) under their helmet... I'm pretty sure you meant balaclava... which is a great combo, and my personal choice.

-w

 

[snowmonster]

I wear a helmet and I can say that it has saved my noggin from whacks from low branches and hitting the deck after taking a spill on very packed snow. While I agree that it will not save me from a catastrophic injury if I decide to hug a tree at high speed, it's saved me from a lot of lumps and headaches. Besides, as a lot have observed, I find it much warmer than a knit cap. Wearing a helmet is not a license to be reckless while skiing (same as in cycling or motorcycling) but I wouldn't want to be in an accident without one.

 

[f1kartracer]

The helmet isnt going to save you if you hit a tree no surprise there. But I have seen what good a helmet does I saw an older guy on a snowboard at wa the conditions were very firm almost ice he ended up going down backwards I was on the lift and heard his head hit the slope. He was still lying there when I skied down I stopped to talk to him when he finally got up his head left a depression about 3" deep in the slope. Had he not been wearing a helmet he would have been taken off the slope to an ambulance. This also speak of slope manners as no one else stopped to see if he was ok.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

doesnt take much to rattle the old noodle...ever stand up quick and hit your head on something?? yea, it hurts and you are seeing stars...the issue isnt a helmet vs. life or death, its about little things like concussions which a friend of mine suffered while on a bunny hill doing the snowplow, slipped on ice and hit his head....patrol came and he had a pretty serious concussion...i wear a helmet skiing, biking (road/mtn), i wear a life jacket waterskiing ....

 

[SIKSKIER]

And what's up with this statement?"And they're a pain for rescuers to deal with if you do wipe out".Really?Mine has a simple snap on the strap.This is a patroller saying these things?Doesnt he carry a knife in his in his fanny pack?I sure hope this guy doesnt rescue me if I'm in trouble.

 

[Paul]

And what's up with this statement?"And they're a pain for rescuers to deal with if you do wipe out".Really?Mine has a simple snap on the strap.This is a patroller saying these things?Doesnt he carry a knife in his in his fanny pack?I sure hope this guy doesnt rescue me if I'm in trouble.

Totally. I fail to see how a helmet can impede rescue. If there's a suspected head/neck injury, the victim would keep the helmet on until the ER staff or paramedics would get to it.