Why Nova Scotia wants you to wear a helmet when you ski
Jan
4
Written by:
04/01/2012 2:00 PM
Just the thought of winter will make many of us shiver and dream of warmer weather and sun soaked beaches. But for some, the dip in temperature and snow is a welcome visitor, because it marks the start of ski season.
While skiing and snowboarding are great ways to stay active over the winter months, we should not forget that they should be enjoyed safely.
That’s why, in December 2011, Nova Scotia introduced and passed the first legislation of its kind in the world that requires all-ages, mandatory helmet use on its commercial ski hills.
Unlike other jurisdictions around the world that have laws mandating helmet use for youth, in Nova Scotia, whether you’re 16 or 60, if you want to ski you must wear a helmet.
This is an important step for our province and the injury prevention community as a whole. A leader in helmet safety with our wheeled activities legislation, we know that mandatory helmet use won’t impact activity levels, and that it will contribute to reducing brain injuries.
A severe brain injury can have a devastating effect on the life on an individual. If the person survives the injury, they may spend the rest of their life needing constant care. For the families of these survivors, it takes a strong emotional and financial toll. And, each severe injury costs our healthcare system in Nova Scotia about $400,000 each year, for each injury, for the lifetime of the survivor.
Wearing an approved helmet, one that meets either the American or European standards, can help reduce the potential of a brain injury by up to 60 percent. The alternative is to ski or snowboard without a helmet and risk an injury that could drastically change your life, or result in death.
So this ski season, and for many more to come, I urge and encourage all skiers and snowboarders to enjoy these sports safely, and to wear a helmet.
Written by Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s Chief Public Health Officer
Copyright ©2012 Safekids Media