December 22, 2005 – Skiers and snowboarders would benefit from wearing a protective helmet. This would reduce their risk of sustaining a head injury by 29%, and the risk of the injury being serious by 56%. This is what a study conducted in Quebec and published in the British Medical Journal1.
The researchers analyzed the circumstances in which 693 head injuries occurred in 19 alpine ski centers in Quebec during the 2001-2002 season.
Almost 70% of these injuries were concussions, of which almost a third required ambulance transport. Collisions, jumps and falls account for most of these accidents. Men (60.8%) were more victims than women (39.2%).
According to the data collected, 75% of those who suffered a head injury did not wear a helmet. In fact, the risk of sustaining a serious head injury was greater (75.7%) for them than for those who wore a helmet (24.3%).
Not just for young people
According to the study, the helmet is not very popular among adolescents and young adults: 57% of under 15s wear it compared to only 15% of those aged 15 to 25 as well as those over 26.
However, everyone would benefit from better protecting their head: 41% of 15 to 25 year olds suffered injuries there, compared to 37% of their younger siblings (under 15) and 21.5% of those over 26.
In addition, the protective effect of the helmet against neck injuries remains to be demonstrated, according to the researchers. Their data indicates that wearing a helmet could even make them worse. However, they believe, the number of neck injuries is too low to draw a definitive conclusion on this matter.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. Hagel BE, Pless IB, Goulet C, Platt RW, Robitaille Y. Effectiveness of helmets in skiers and snowboarders: case-control and case crossover study, British Medical Journal, February 5, 2005, vol. 330, no 7486, 281.
