January 8, 1999 - WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff is recommending skiers and snowboarders wear helmets to help prevent head injuries from falls and collisions. In a study released today (pdf format), the CPSC staff concluded that helmet use by skiers and snowboarders could prevent or reduce the severity of 44 percent of head injuries to adults, and 53 percent of head injuries to children under the age of 15. The proportion of skiing and snowboarding head injuries is higher in children than in any other age group.

In 1997, there were 17,500 head injuries associated with skiing and snowboarding. The CPSC study estimates that 7,700 head injuries -- including 2,600 head injuries to children -- could be prevented or reduced in severity each year by using skiing or snowboarding helmets. The study also shows that helmet use could prevent about 11 skiing- and snowboarding- related deaths annually.

"We know that helmet use can prevent serious head injuries in a wide variety of sports and activities, including bicycling and in-line skating," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. "This study of skiing and snowboarding shows that helmets can prevent or reduce the severity of head injuries on the slopes, just as they do on the streets."

The study of head injuries associated with skiing and snowboarding was conducted as part of CPSC's ongoing work to reduce head injuries in a variety of sports and activities.

In addition to the CPSC staff study, research in other countries has shown that helmets can help prevent head injuries to skiers. In Sweden, a national study found that head injuries among skiers wearing helmets were 50 percent lower than for skiers not wearing helmets.

According to the National Sporting Goods Association, nearly 10 million people participate in alpine skiing more than once each year. Between 1993 and 1997, the number of people who snowboard increased from 1.8 million to 2.5 million.

The CPSC study found that while overall hospital emergency room-treated injuries associated with skiing declined substantially between 1993 and 1997, the number of head injuries remained relatively constant. During the same period, snowboarding injuries nearly tripled and the number of head injuries from snowboarding increased five-fold.

From 1993 to 1997, the estimated number of hospital emergency room-treated injuries of all types associated with skiing declined from 114,400 to 84,200. The injuries have dropped, in part, because of improvements in ski equipment, such as redesigned bindings, which have reduced injuries to the legs. Head injuries were essentially unchanged at 13,600 in 1993 and 12,700 in 1997. For snowboarding, hospital emergency room treated injuries increased from 12,600 in 1993 to 37,600 in 1997. The number of head injuries associated with snowboarding increased from 1,000 in 1993 to 5,200 in 1997.

In addition to wearing helmets specifically designed for skiing or snowboarding, the CPSC recommends these additional safety tips:

• Select the right equipment, and make sure items such as bindings and boots are adjusted to fit properly.
• Make sure you have the proper training, and don't ski or snowboard beyond your ability.
• Ski and snowboard in control, and follow the rules of the slopes.
• Never ski or snowboard alone. Make sure someone is there to help you if you get hurt.
• Get in shape before you hit the slopes. Making sure you are physically fit before you ski or snowboard can help prevent injuries.
• Wear warm, close-fitting clothing. Loose clothing can become entangled in lifts, tow ropes and ski poles.

For more information on skiing and snowboarding safety, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or go to our web site at www.cpsc.gov.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from the unreasonable risk of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury and for information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's web site at https://www.cpsc.gov. Consumers can report product hazards to [email protected].

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