With the library crammed to the limit this week and each minute towards the end of term like an hour, everyone is ready for a break. For a certain crowd of people the time cannot pass quickly enough, with every depleting hour meaning one step closer to a week of sun, snow and seriously good fun: the Easter ski trip.
Anyone one who has been on a university ski trip will undoubtedly tell you to grab the opportunity when it comes your way. If bombing down a slope with the wind in your hair and incredible views across the mountains can’t convince you, imagine the fun you’ll have on holiday with a group of friends partying and spending time together. See HCX’s article on ‘The Best Week of Your Life’ for further persuading!
Whilst packing for the trip, I am sure many of you are debating the controversial issue of whether or not to wear a helmet this year. If you go on an annual ski trip, the increase in people wearing helmets over the last few years cannot have escaped your notice and it is all for good cause. More people than ever are now wearing helmets and some countries are beginning to make them compulsory. After the tragic death of Natasha Richardson in 2009, Italy made helmets compulsory for children under the age of 14 and Austria has recently enforced a similar rule. It is alarming to speculate the number of deaths that could have been avoided, if only a helmet was worn.
The case of Natasha Richardson is especially shocking and highlights how easy an accident can happen. During a lesson on a beginner slope in Montreal, Richardson fell and hit her head. Although she was initially alert and showed no signs of trauma, a day later she developed a severe headache and died soon after. An autopsy revealed her cause of death to be an “epidural hematoma due to blunt impact to the head.”
The human body is a relatively sturdy instrument, but it is not meant to withhold forces of 15mph or over. Interestingly a study recently showed that 74% of head injuries occurred due to collision with the snow. Only 10% were the result of a collision with another person, and 13% were due to hitting a fixed object. Although it may feel and look soft, that white powder can evidently cause some damage if you hit it hard or going at a fast speed.
A lot of people hugely underestimate the speed that they gain when going down a slope. The average speed of people on a downhill slope is around 20 mph, but if two of the people on the slope collide, that causes a 40mph impact. For those of you that are competent skiers and stick to the harder slopes, it is likely you are gaining speeds of up to 40 mph. If this sounds unbelievable – get an app and test it yourself and I’m sure you won’t be far off! With speeds like that, it is hard to believe people do not even consider wearing a helmet, especially when the statistics speak for themselves. A 2011 British Medical Journal study suggested helmet use reduced head injuries by 35% in adults and 59% in children under 13. Simply the fact that the UK Travel Insurer Essential Travel are now offering a 15% discount on wintersport insurance to anyone who agrees to wear a helmet is further proof that wearing a helmet is safer. Moreover, new helmet designs that are lighter, stronger and less expensive are constantly being manufactured. Whilst excuses like the fact they are “heavy and ugly” might have been used a few years ago, today, there are few criticisms that can be made of a helmet.
The individuals that claim they do not need a helmet because they are competent skiers should also re-evaluate their stance. A helmet is not just projecting you from your own actions, but the actions of other skiers around you. A crash can happen to anyone at anytime on any level of slope. Competency has nothing to do with it. The experience of Pat Zimmer, a French former downhill skier is evidence of this. I think we would all agree as a former professional skier Zimmer has a certain level of competency. However, having never worn a helmet on the slope, he suffered a serious brain haemorrhage when an out of control skier crashed into him. Thankfully neurosurgeons were able to repair the damage, and he has returned to the slopes. His advice about wearing helmets now: “Clunk, click, every trip! And never leave home without it!”
As of yet there is no rule or law that states skiers and snowboarders must wear a helmet: the choice is up to. I only hope that in reading this article you are able to make a more informed decision. As students, the cost of anything is always an important factor in making decisions. Whilst £10 may feel like a lot of money at the end of term to rent an item you don’t really want to wear. In reality, if £10 is the price to ensure the safety of your brain or even your life, then it is undoubtedly a bargain.
Sources: http://www.skiholidayextras.co…, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/heal…
Image Credits: http://www.salomon.com/, telegraph.co.uk, uhudshop.blogspot.com