State may be first to require ski helmets for kids
Flickr photo by JasmicWhen Jim Robertson, president of the Conejo Ski and Sports Club, hits the slopes, he likes to find out-of-the-way runs on the back side of the mountain, avoiding both trees and crowds.
He doesn’t wear a helmet while skiing, but his grown children, who snowboard, have since they were young. Robertson said not wearing a helmet has not been an issue because of the runs he chooses.
Now, with state lawmakers considering a proposed law to require children to wear helmets when skiing or snowboarding, Robertson acknowledged the wisdom of such a safety precaution – certainly for kids, perhaps even for himself. “It’s a great idea,” Robertson said. “Maybe it should be required for everyone.”
California may be the first state to require at least children to wear helmets on the slopes.
Studies by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission show head injuries represent 14 percent of all ski and snowboarder accidents, and more than half of the deaths on the slopes each year are due to head injuries.
The percentage of serious injuries has increased significantly along with the rising popularity
