Re: Question with ref to the Natasha Richardson accident

I haven't been skiing in awhile, but I've never worn a helmet. I definitely think I should have been wearing a helmet, just never thought to. Never see anyone on the slopes with them, but if you think about it, you are going faster than when riding a bike in most cases and helmets seem natural then. I hope this sparks awareness.

I wonder if part of the reason that this is getting more attention than Sonny Bono or Michael Kennedy is that she was on the bunny slope, so it drives home the idea that it could really happen to anyone.

I also think people are looking for anything to focus on other than the abysmal economic news, so that draws attention as well.

Re: Question with ref to the Natasha Richardson accident

We ski very frequently and have worn helmets for years, and it seems to me that we usually see people who ski frequently and who are on the more advanced slopes wearing helmets. I do see more children with them now as well. They rent them with the ski equipment at most mountains, but I think people just don't go for it...maybe they think it doesn't look cool?

Re: Question with ref to the Natasha Richardson accident

Re: Question with ref to the Natasha Richardson accident

I ski quite often and i wear a helmet - it is more likely to a see a person wearing one than not in Colorado. i believe it is manadatory for kids in ski school to have a helmet

But for me i am more careless when i have my hemet on - i have tons of marks from tree branches because i know it is there - so for me it is not always better - but i am an expert skier - i have had a helmet for over 15 years


The ski helmets are warm - and if you need an extra layer they make a neck warmer that has a hood that goes under the helmet

Re: Question with ref to the Natasha Richardson accident

I am more of I guess an advanced beginner when it comes to skiing mainly becasue I don't prefer to go on any advance slopes but have been wearing a helmet for years now. DH and I spend time in Colorado and out there I would say the majority of skiers have them on most of the time. I don't see them as much on the East Coast but I do see them quite a bit. I love to ski and have had some bad wipe outs as well as getting skied into once VERY badly which left me with a concussion--with a helmet on! In my mind helmets should be required, they won't save everyone but if they can help , why not make it law? I'm looking forward to my DS learning to ski and you better believe he will have a helmet on every SECOND he is on skies!

Re: Question with ref to the Natasha Richardson accident

They wear them in competitions/Olympics. I don't see why they are not mandatory already for anyone on the sloppes.

Re: Question with ref to the Natasha Richardson accident

I don't think I have enough ski experience to say whether I think helmets should be mandatory but I will give you something to think about: hand and wrist injuries are very common in any sport where falling is a risk. The hands and wrists are very complicated for surgeons to work on and there are very few jobs that a person can do without fine manipulation. When rollerblading was more popular, I saw some awful disability cases result from related injuries and a big aspect was the use of the hands. Wrist guards are essential. I am not sure if they should be required and for what sports they are essential but I would want my son to use them for anything where they won't interfere with the sport. I know, hand injuries might not be fatal but they have a huge impact on people, especially where there are additional injuries or additional medical problems.

Re: Question with ref to the Natasha Richardson accident

We went skiing a few weeks ago and and few times this winter with my son (4 1/2) - we bought him a helmet from day one. Many of the kids wear them but I think its only mandatory during a ski school lesson.

As for the adults, again its at your discretion but honestly when we were up in the Adirondacks as opposed to downstate MANY more adults and older kids were wearing helmets. its more the norm now.

I didn't get one for myself this season because I was primarily training my son, but we are getting one in the off season for next year.

My son also wears his ski helmet sledding.

Message edited 3/19/2009 12:07:48 AM.

Re: Question with ref to the Natasha Richardson accident

Posted by seaside

DH and I were just talking about this. Many of our friends raised this exact question over the past 48 hours, and I was wondering why the Michael Kennedy and Sonny Bono deaths didn't spark the same fear and awareness that this has.

for that family.

Re: Question with ref to the Natasha Richardson accident

I started wearing a helmet about 5 years ago and wear it every time I venture out on the slopes. I keep DS in his even when we are walking around outside. There are no regulations but many ski areas require helmets for children in lessons. The next generation of skiers will wear them all the time.

Re: Question with ref to the Natasha Richardson accident

I'm going to be getting one for the next time I go skiing. I've been skiing for 15 years and never wore one before. I've worked in ER's and seen traumatic head injuries, but I guess I never thought about it too much. This really hit home and I realize I'm lucky I didn't need it before.

I guess it's the same as any safety awareness. I mean think about car seats. 30years ago they weren't even around, people didn't think much about them, and definately not mandatory. Now every car has latch systems and the car seats are so evolved and you wouldn't imagine putting your child in a car without one. Hopefully that will be the future of ski helmuts and it will become the norm.

Re: Question with ref to the Natasha Richardson accident

I haven't skied in years, but I would wear a helmet for sure if I did again. I wear one when I ride my bike and think you should whenever you are doing an activity where you are at risk of falling and hitting your head.

Re: Question with ref to the Natasha Richardson accident

Every time I went skiing, I never wore a helmet....

and she was on a bunny slope....that is the scariest part, they said after she fell she even joked about falling, they didn't know the seriousness of it right away