The Benefits of Wearing a Ski Helmet
A 13WHAM News story yesterday has touched off a lot of debate about whether people should wear ski helmets.
The truth is, more people are choosing to wear them. In fact, 12 percent more adults are wearing them over one year ago. (The growth rate tripled over a normal year!)
Some have suggested there should be a law mandating them. Others say there are enough laws that impede on our freedoms.
That aside, one of the nation’s foremost researchers on this issue weighs in. Dr. Jasper Shealy, professor emeritus at RIT, says many times the helmet becomes a “risk enabler” because it encourages skiers to do something that they otherwise would not have done.
“Helmets are not panaceas,” Dr. Shealy said recently. “They have an extremely limited ability to prevent serious head injuries.” His research suggests that most snow sports fatalities come after impact with a fixed object – such as a tree — traveling at speeds of 44 kph (kilometers per hour) or more. Most helmets by design will protect to speeds of about half that at best.
“Helmets are fairly effective at preventing minor head injuries such as scalp lacerations…but not so good at preventing more serious fatalities,” Dr. Shealy concludes.
Bottom line: Helmets prevent 100 percent of minor head injuries, and 35 to 50 percent of serious head injuries. But they do not cut fatalities. Now you know the research behind that statement from Wednesday’s news story.
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