Less than a year ago, actress Natasha Richardson was taking a beginner's lesson on a Quebec ski hill when she fell and hit her head. Although she didn't initially appear to be hurt, tragically, two days later she died of a brain hemorrhage. The fact that Richardson wasn't wearing a helmet has prompted some ski hills, such as Mont Tremblant Resort in Quebec, to make them mandatory for certain age groups. The accident also has more people talking about how helmets can prevent serious injuries and save lives.
Here's what you need to know to protect yourself and your kids – and make the right choices when selecting a helmet for various winter activities.
Take safety seriously
Brain injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in children, and are the most common cause of death among skiers and snowboarders, according to The Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC) and injury prevention experts.
"People don't realize the long-term consequences of a simple head injury, let alone a complex one," says Richard Kinar, an advocate for helmet standards who works with the BIAC and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). "It's a life-altering event."
These injuries – which can range from concussion to skull fracture and bleeding – can also lead to many difficulties later in life, such as learning disabilities, and behavioural and emotional problems. Moreover, The Alzheimer Society has identified a link between brain injury and an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's. Worst of all, head injuries can easily be fatal.
Most winter sports – including skiing, skating, snowboarding, tobogganing, snowmobiling, even cross-country skiing – carry the potential for injury. Consider this: when you're downhill skiing, you can reach a speed of 45 kilometres per hour; 35 kilometres per hour when you're tobogganing.
How to buy a helmet
Who should wear a helmet and for what sports? "If you see Olympic or professional athletes wearing a helmet when they participate in a sport, you should be wearing one, too," says Denyse Boxell, a project leader at Safe Kids Canada. And helmets are not just for kids – adults participating in these activities should also wear them. As for what type of helmet to wear for which activity, here are a few guidelines.
• For skating, a hockey helmet is best, since it's tested for the kind of falls that can happen on ice. All hockey helmets sold in Canada are certified by the CSA International; look for the logo on a sticker on the inside and the back of the helmet.
Page 1 of 3 – On page 2, discover what other criteria you need to know when buying a helmet.
