Skiers and snowboarders who wear helmets are up to half as likely to sustain head or face injuries as those who do not, according to research.
According to the Daily Telegraph, quoting a report in the British Medical Journal, between 30 and 60 per cent of those involved in falls or collisions will avoid injury if they are wearing a helmet.
The study was based on 4,000 injuries over the course of a season in resorts in Quebec, Canada; out of 4,000, 693 were head injuries and of these, 70 per cent were concussion.
Prof Brent Hagel, of the University of Alberta, is quoted as saying: “Wearing a helmet while skiing or snowboarding may reduce the risk of a head injury by 29 to 56 per cent. This may even be an underestimate if, as in cycling, the helmets were worn incorrectly, in poor condition or not designed for skiing or snowboarding.”
The Telegraph reports that just five per cent of adult skiers and snowboarders wear helmets, but the tide may be changing. As reported by News From Abroad last month, authorities in Italy are calling to make wearing helmets compulsory for all skiers and boarders.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
