Neck injuries from helmets???????

[Glenn]

Ok, so reading through a hunter trail map reading some saftey warnings and it says

 

"We recommend the use of helmets, which are available for rental, because they may reduce the severtiy of head injuries, although they may increase the likelihood of neck injuries for small children."

 

Anyone know anything about this. For those of you with smaller skiiers/riders, do the benifits outway the risk?

[ThinkSnow]

Wow, never really heard this... I've always heard that kids should wear helmets, and would guess that it's safer to wear them than not. Is the reason just the added weight, and saying a head jerk will hurt their neck? Interesting, any comments Skimom?

[Glenn]

I think its the added weight thing, but I'm not sure. It doesnt even say they shouldn't wear helmets, its just like an fyi "this may happen, don't say we didn't warn you" type deal.

[AtomicSkier]

I would like to hear Dr. Skimom's opinion on this, as shes an advocate for wearing helmets

[Ski]

I would like to hear Dr. Skimom's opinion on this, as shes an advocate for wearing helmets 

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"Another concern about ski helmets is that they introduce a minor risk of neck injuries; the lower rear edge of the helmet acts as a pivot point that can cause an anterior translation spinal injury. Helmets may also increase the risk of whiplash injuries in small children because their necks are weaker."

[ThinkSnow]

What do people say about that risk vs the risk of injury without a helmet??

[skigurl]

ok i'm totaly gussing on this one, but for a smaller child who's head is smaller if they were to fall with out a helmet it would be easy for the head and there for the neck to flex(and do kinda a tuck a roll thing), but when you but a "bulky" helmet on a child most helmets stop right in the middle of your neck so if you fall and that part of the helmet has the chance to hit the back of the neck hard enough it would do damage expicaily since a childs bones(structure) is not as developed or as strong as an adults

Edited December 15, 2004 by RacerChick

[Glenn]

"Another concern about ski helmets is that they introduce a minor risk of neck injuries; the lower rear edge of the helmet acts as a pivot point that can cause an anterior translation spinal injury. Helmets may also increase the risk of whiplash injuries in small children because their necks are weaker."

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I assume (probably incorrectly) that, the above quote is from skimom? The question still remains however, do the benefits outweigh the risks for small children?

[skidude]

What do people say about that risk vs the risk of injury without a helmet??

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I think that is just a disclaimer so that if you do hurt your neck they don't get sued. HOWEVER if you think about snapping your neck or w/e with a helmet on...Then most likely you were going fast, and/or hit something, so you would be screwed without a helmet on too.

 

Most of the time, I would say (as woudl Skimom I think) that you are much better off with a helmet on.

[Ski]

The quote is from a specialist at a head/neck trauma web site...it appears on a bunch of sites, so it seems "accepted".

My kid would never ski without a helmet. There's no arguement that it's safer for kids to wear them. Ski schools in Colorado have begun making them manditory for kids in lessons.

My older daughter was saved from a fractured skull after race practice a couple of years ago. It was the end of the day and she was tired and just slipped in crud on a blue run. Put a crack in the back of a high-end helmet.

I hate wearing a helmet. I have to for races, but that's the only time...I figure what's going to happen will happen...

[Glenn]

The quote is from a specialist at a head/neck trauma web site...it appears on a bunch of sites, so it seems "accepted".

My kid would never ski without a helmet. There's no arguement that it's safer for kids to wear them. Ski schools in Colorado have begun making them manditory for kids in lessons.

My older daughter was saved from a fractured skull after race practice a couple of years ago. It was the end of the day and she was tired and just slipped in crud on a blue run. Put a crack in the back of a high-end helmet.

I hate wearing a helmet. I have to for races, but that's the only time...I figure what's going to happen will happen...

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I'd love to think that way... and if I died, I think I would be happy it was doing something I love, but if I got seriously injured it would be just that much more of a kick in the nuts that it was because of snowboarding, more so that it was something that could have been avoided with a simple piece of equipment. I honestly don't think they are that bad, they are REALLY warm, and even on the not so bad falls they keep the pain down. Plus... I have rail paint on mine... can't imagine that would have been good

[skigurl]

i had one when i was much younger(like age 2-5) but when i grew out of that one i never go t a new one untill they were starting to infoce them for lessons, and with the school, ever since then my mom won't let me or my sister ski with out them.

[AtomicSkier]

I love wearing my helmet. Its so comfortable, and its the norm for everyone to wear them now, so it's not like "ohhhh you're a wuss cause you wear a helmet"

[Glenn]

I love wearing my helmet.  Its so comfortable, and its the norm for everyone to wear them now, so it's not like "ohhhh you're a wuss cause you wear a helmet"

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IDK... I still get that from a lot of riders... espeacially the rider who goes 5 or less times a year. I get it alot from people who don't ride at all as well.

[Ski]

I love wearing my helmet.  Its so comfortable, and its the norm for everyone to wear them now, so it's not like "ohhhh you're a wuss cause you wear a helmet"

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Where was 'Dude to say you are a wuss anyway?

[pyro_boarder]

IDK... I still get that from a lot of riders... espeacially the rider who goes 5 or less times a year. I get it alot from people who don't ride at all as well.

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If they dont ride that often they don't realy have much say in wether or not someone should where a helmet, When you ride a few time a week there is much more risk of injury than if you go a few time a year. And if they don't ski or ride their oppion is unimportaint anyway.

Edited December 15, 2004 by pyro_boarder

[Glenn]

If they dont ride that often they don't realy have much say in wether or not someone should where a helmet,  When you ride a few time a week there is much more risk of injury than if you go a few time a year.  And if they don't ski or ride their oppion is unimportaint anyway.

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Actually, statitics point in the other direction. It's the person who rides less often that is more likely to get injured. I always try to get the kids I go with for the first time to where helmets, cos they say most serious injuries happen within the first 10 (close to that) times. I guess the whole thing behind it is, if your going more frequently, you have a. better skills, b. you know your limits much better, c. you can tell when you need to stop/take a break.

[pyro_boarder]

That's a good point. I was thinking more along the lines of people who go more often have more oppertounities to injure themselves.

[skidude]

Where was 'Dude to say you are a wuss anyway?

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HAHA, I was honestly thinking of saying that, but then, ehh I got too lazy

[skifreak]

Well I have never been made fun of for wearing a helmet except for these snowboarders at school who called me a pussy for wearing it and for skiing...not dissing any boarders here but maybe that is wrong with the kids at school who are making fun of me seeing how they can't do basic math or anything. On another note other boarders at school who wear a helmet are not stupid.

[skigurl]

i've been skiing for lets see 14 to 15 yrs now, and last yr i'd say my helmet saved at least a few brain cells, and maybe even a head injury at least 10 times.

[skimom]

Sorry for the late response. I've been ex-communicated from the electronic world.

You are all essentially right - Children have relatively big heads and weak neck muscles, so some surmised that young children would be predisposed to cervical spine injuries from helmets. There is no hard data to support the theory in skiers - And, a study from Whistler disproves it -> Although a helmet won't save you from massive thoracic trauma if you hit a tree at 60 mph, it's clear you are statistically more likely to do better in a crash when wearing a helmet.

I always wear a helmet because brain cells don't regenerate.

Sonny Bono

[Ski]

Well I have never been made fun of for wearing a helmet except for these snowboarders at school who called me a pussy for wearing it and for skiing...not dissing any boarders here but maybe that is wrong with the kids at school who are making fun of me seeing how they can't do basic math or anything. On another note other boarders at school who wear a helmet are not stupid.

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You, uh, aren't actually wearing to school, are you?

[ThinkSnow]

You, uh, aren't actually wearing to school, are you?

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LOL

 

I definitely plan on getting my nephew a helmet when I bring him out this year.

[skigurl]

if you go in the younger grades with our school they make you get a helmet, last yr a girl fell off the lower quad(from the middle school) and they say her helmet saved her life