In a few weeks, the snow will fall and many people will be hitting the slopes to ski and snowboard for some wintertime fun. However, fun always implies safety, and in terms of safety in winter sports, fun will also mean wearing a proper helmet to avoid injury. We’ve previously blogged about the importance of wearing helmets when playing sports, but we haven’t touched on winter sports in great detail.
What is interesting is that in Canada, there are no laws regarding safety regulations for ski or snowboard headgear. Canada has drafted its own regulation, but that was back in 2008 and it needs to be updated. Not only is this unfortunate, but also potentially fatal. Although many snow sport helmets look alike, there can be vast variations in terms of performance, safety and effectiveness.
Biomechanical engineer Alyssa DeMarco has seen many inadequate helmets and said it’s hard for consumers to tell the difference since, “They’re the same price, the same look, similar boxes. You could very easily get confused and end up buying a hard-hat helmet, which is lacking what makes a helmet a helmet.” The major distinction between a real sports helmet and a fake one is an energy-absorbing liner, DeMarco said.
While many are prone to say helmet use is the major concern, recent statistics have proven this theory wrong. Helmet use is wide-spread among snowboarders and skiers. The problem, it seems, is the quality of the helmets available and the regulations concerning their quality and effectiveness.
According to DeMarco, the problem would be largely resolved if the federal government required that only certified helmets be sold.
Helmets can help prevent against traumatic, acquired brain injuries. For the public, wearing a helmet when engaging in winter sports should be a “no-brainer,” even though the fight to draft proper legislation to protect the public isn’t.
If you are ever in a sporting injury, and especially a snow sport injury involving a defective, faulty or imposter helmet, please don’t hesitate to speak with a personal injury lawyer to understand your rights and get the medical care you deserve. If you have any questions, book a free consultation or call 1-855-446-7765 for immediate assistance. You may also want to visit our section on personal injury to see what options are available to you.
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