Compulsory helmets for school-age skiers and snowboarders

Slaney, Graham M; Finn, Judith; Cook, Angus; Weinstein, Philip

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01266.x

Topics

To the Editor: With the ski season in Australia drawing to a close for another year, it is a good time to reflect on the injury prevention benefits of wearing helmets when skiing or snowboarding.

1 Mansfield Medical Clinic, Mansfield, VIC.
2 School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA.

Correspondence: gslaney@swiftdsl.com.au

1. Munro C. Father pleads for helmets on snowboarders after son dies in mountain fall. The Sun-Herald (Sydney) 2006; 13 August. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/08/12/1154803143006.html (accessed Aug 2007).
2. Flood L, Harrison JE. Hospitalised sports injury, Australia 2002–03. Adelaide: AIHW, 2006. (AIHW Cat. No. INJCAT 79.) http://www.nisu.flinders. edu.au/pubs/reports/2006/injcat79.pdf (accessed Aug 2007).
3. Hagel BE, Pless IB, Goulet C, et al. Effectiveness of helmets in skiers and snowboarders: case–control and case crossover study. BMJ 2005; 330: 281-285.
4. Sulheim S, Holme I, Ekeland A, Bahr R. Helmet use and risk of head injuries in alpine skiers and snowboarders. JAMA 2006; 295: 919-924.

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