Following the success of SUVA's campaign in Switzerland to encourage
the wearing of helmets for skiing and boarding, this winter the SUVA
campaign is to encourage skiers and boarders to reduce their speed (see http://www.suva.ch/fr/startseite-suva.htm). Bearing in mind that
adolescents have a different response to risks than adults, one wonders if
encouraging the use of helmets might also encourage young people to ski
and ride faster and with less control; perhaps resulting in more rather
than fewer accidents. Of the 70,000 accidents each year on Swiss ski
slopes, it might be that human behaviour is a bigger consideration in the
cause and avoidance of accidents, rather than the use or absence of
personal protective equipment.
Rapid Response:
Re: Helmets protect skiers and snowboarders
Following the success of SUVA's campaign in Switzerland to encourage
the wearing of helmets for skiing and boarding, this winter the SUVA
campaign is to encourage skiers and boarders to reduce their speed (see
http://www.suva.ch/fr/startseite-suva.htm). Bearing in mind that
adolescents have a different response to risks than adults, one wonders if
encouraging the use of helmets might also encourage young people to ski
and ride faster and with less control; perhaps resulting in more rather
than fewer accidents. Of the 70,000 accidents each year on Swiss ski
slopes, it might be that human behaviour is a bigger consideration in the
cause and avoidance of accidents, rather than the use or absence of
personal protective equipment.
Competing interests: No competing interests