|
Useful Stuff
Many people are considering wearing a helmet now for winter sports. Snow Helmets are now the fastest selling piece of winter sports equipment, Helmet Guru want all riders to wear a helmet but it is an education process and change of mind set for many.
Ultimately, its one of personal or parental choice.
- Will I be safer wearing a helmet?
Helmets can make a difference in reducing or preventing injury from falls or other impacts. They are most
effective at slower speeds. Be sure to have your helmet properly fitted if you decide that you should wear one.
And don't forget to learn ski and snowboard responsibly and to be familiar with the "Your Responsibility Code,"
the seven safety rules of the slopes.
- Are there helmets specifically designed for snowsports or can I wear my bicycle helmet?
If you wear a helmet while bicycling, it's great to see that you're already safety conscious. Likewise, it's
probably a good idea to wear a helmet on the slopes- it really comes down to your acceptance of risk. Ski
and snowboard helmets are specifically designed for skiing and snowboarding usage. Wearing another sport's
helmet may or may not afford you adequate protection.
Ski and snowboard helmets are built and designed for multiple impacts (the combination of a hard shell and
the liner.) Bicycle helmets are generally built for single impacts. Ski and snowboard helmets are also insulated
for cold weather and bicycle helmets provide more ventilation than ski helmets. A ski and snowboard helmet
should provide better coverage and impact protection than a bicycle helmet.
Keep in mind that the risk of a potentially serious head injury on the slopes may be much lower than you think.
Such injuries are actually less than 2.5 percent of all medically significant injuries in skiing, whereas for bicycle
riders, the comparable number is 32 percent. However, the National Ski Areas Association encourages you to
consider wearing a helmet on the slopes and to educate yourself about a helmet's benefits and limitations.
- How much protection can a helmet give me?
Helmets do have limits and users need to be aware of them. However, a helmet can make a difference in
reducing or preventing injury and many skiers and snowboarders today are choosing to wear them. Helmets
are designed to reduce the severity of head injuries, but they are most effective at providing protection from a
direct blow to the head at speeds of 12 mph or slower. Keep in mind, if you lose control and hit a tree, object or
another skier at moderate or high speed, a helmet may not prevent or reduce a serious injury. It's important
that the user doesn't think that he can take more risks because he's wearing a helmet and therefore will be
more protected. This is a false sense of security. Whether wearing a helmet or not, you should always ski
responsibly and within your ability.
- If I fall or hit a tree or a rock while skiing, will a helmet protect me from getting hurt?
A helmet can make a difference in reducing or preventing injury and many skiers/snowboarders are
choosing to wear them. Keep in mind, if you lose control and should hit a tree, rock, another object or another
skier at moderate or high speed, a helmet may not always prevent or reduce a serious injury. It's best not to
put yourself in a situation where you're depending on a helmet to avoid an injury.
- Is there a standard for manufacturing a helmet? How do I know if the helmet I wear will provide me enough protection?
When purchasing a helmet, read the accompanying literature to see if the helmet meets one of the three
following helmet standards:
The Common European Norm (CEN) is a large European standard organization that develops hundreds of
standards for various products used by the European Union. The CEN 1077 standard is the European ski
helmet standard; it was issued in 1996. This European ski helmet standard was almost identical to a preexisting
ski helmet standard used in the 1980s. Compared with the other ski helmet standards, the CEN
standard is the least demanding in impact management requirements.
The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), a not-for-profit organization that provides a global
forum for the development and publication of voluntary consensus standards for materials, products, systems,
and services, adopted a United States' recreational snowsports helmet F2040 standard in May 2000; it has
become the standard to which helmets should be manufactured in the United States. Ski and Snowboard
helmets manufactured in the United States should conform to the ASTM snowsports helmet standard. For
more information about ASTM, log on to www.astm.org.
Lastly, the Snell Memorial Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to research, education, testing
and development of helmet safety standards, develops helmet standards and operates test labs for testing and
certification. Since its founding in 1957, Snell has been a leader in helmet safety in the United States and
around the world. (For more information, log on to www.smf.org). The Snell RS-98 standard is the most
stringent ski helmet standard in the world.
Note: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) endorsed the use of snowsports helmets in
January of 1999. (For the document, go to www.cpsc.gov, under library/FOIA, click on consumer-related
statistics, then click on skiing helmets, at bottom). The CPSC noted that while the then proposed ASTM
standard (the ASTM Standard wasn't adopted until May 2000) and the CEN standard may differ in test
parameters, a helmet that meets either of the standards "will provide adequate protection to reduce the risk of
head injury." The Snell standard, presumably, would be considered adequate as well since it's the most
stringent of the three standards.
- Are skiing and snowboarding as safe as they used to be?
Skiing and snowboarding have always had some risks, but they also have an excellent safety record. Skiers
and snowboarders have less than a one in a million chance of being seriously injured or dying on the slopes.
Serious head injuries account for only 2.6 percent of overall skiing/snowboarding injuries. Each skier or
snowboarder's behavior has as much or more to do with the safety of the sports as does any piece of
equipment. Following "Your Responsibility Code" is the key to promoting your and others' safety. If you choose
to wear a helmet or use other types of equipment to protect yourself, be sure you understand the limits and
proper use of that equipment. Don't let any safety equipment give you a false sense of security.
- If I buy a helmet, what are some tips to assist me in my purchase?
The most important consideration when purchasing a helmet is the fit. A helmet is not a piece of equipment
that you want to purchase too small or too large to grow into.
To find the right helmet size, simply measure the circumference of your head where a hat would sit. i .e. just above your eyebrows. Then when selecting your helmet look at the size guide on each product page (which is in cm) to choose the right fit.
- What Do You Need to Know About Helmets and Safety?
You should be familiar with and/or memorize the "Your Responsibility Code," the seven rules of
slope safety. Slope safety and personal responsibility should be discussed prior to hitting the slopes.
A helmet can make a difference in reducing or preventing a head injury from a fall or other impacts.
However, no helmet can protect the wearer against all foreseeable impacts and injuries to the head.
Put the emphasis on using your smarts and ski and/or snowboard responsibly.
A helmet's fit is most important. It's helpful to have an experienced sales person assist your child the fit.
Know your child's head circumference. You can learn this by using a tailor's measuring tape and
measure your child's head above the ears and right above the eyebrows (widest part of the head from
the front to the back). A properly fit helmet will be comfortable with no pressure points. A helmet is not
an item that you want to grow into.
When shopping for a helmet, bring your goggles with you to make sure they will fit with the helmet you
choose.
When buying a helmet consider choosing one that has met established standards, such as the Central
European Norm, the ASTM standard, which was adopted in 2000 or by the Snell memorial Foundation. The
important thing to remember is that choosing an approved helmet helps ensure that it will be effective when
you need it.
Who are Alpina?
Built on a wealth of experience, Alpina have been producing top selling helmets since the 1980s, which is why they are still one of the top European brands with distribution worldwide.
With the focus on technology athletes wearing Alpina ski helmets have had much success in the winter sports Olympics.
Certainly when it comes to quality, design and style there are no Ski or Snowboard helmets to touch them.
|
