In an era of skiing and riding where helmets use has now, by most accounts hit almost 50%, one has to, at times, question the quality of the products on the market.
Most snow sports helmets available to the consumer have an impact rating of what? 12 MPH? 18 MPH? 30 MPH? While not claiming any accuracy with the math involved, I'm guessing that if a skier traveling only 5 MPH down the hill catches an edge and falls directly on their head, the impact with the snow would be easily in excess of 30 MPH. You see the problem?
Don't misunderstand me, I am not arguing against helmet use. In fact, I believe that some protection is better than none. Skiing in the East, where one finds larger crowds relative to the available skiing acreage, I wear my helmet almost every time I'm on snow.
There is a move with some resorts to mandate the use of helmets for on snow personnel such as race coaches and ski instructors during all on snow working hours with no workers compensation coverage for those who fail to comply. I do question this when the quality of the helmets available is, quite frankly, not what it should be. We can do better.
The path is two fold: First, mandate higher standards with the products. While most of the helmet companies today have done a great job with improving fit and offering personality with every model, the impact ratings need attention.
Second, when it comes to resort staff setting an example, resorts need to find a positive way to encourage this, not threaten a loss of workers compensation. In fact, I suspect that in a given case, if the staff member who got hurt without wearing a helmet establishes that the helmet would have had no effect on the situation, the law will dictate that workers compensation be provided. After all, who ever heard of a helmet preventing an ACL injury?
Positive approaches produce the best results; let's hear your thoughts on how to accomplish a positive result with helmet protection.
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