Skiers Don More Helmets On The Slopes
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The recent death of actress Natasha Richardson on a Canadian ski slope has reminded many travelers of the importance of wearing a helmet when doing adventure sports. NY1's Travel reporter Valarie D'Elia filed the following report.Just weeks after a high-profile ski accident took the life of Broadway star Natasha Richardson, safety awareness on the ski slopes appears to be increasing.
Late season snow at many U.S. resorts is keeping skiers on the slopes for some excellent spring conditions this year. And if Aspen/Snowmass is any indicator, more people are becoming safety conscious.
"It's the first time my husband and I decided to wear helmets, especially with what just happened with Natasha Richardson," says Florida skier Lisa Bywater. "We try to teach our kids safety and we need to be an example to them"
Natasha Richardson was fatally injured while taking a beginner's ski lesson in Canada, where she was not required to wear a helmet.
While it's mandatory that kids enrolled in ski school in Aspen wear helmets, adult skiers in the United States are not required to.
However, the National Ski Areas Association says nearly half of the skiers and snowboarders on the slopes already do so, which is an increase of 25 percent from five years ago.
While the rising popularity of helmets has not curbed the number of fatalities on the slopes, it has contributed to as much as a 50 percent reduction in head injuries.
With the seasons changing, experts say it's time to consider protecting your head from other outdoor sports. But remember that helmets aren't interchangeable.
"Bicycle helmets, you're usually traveling at high speeds, they are a lot more ventilated. If you look at rock climbing helmets again they are designed specifically for the sport," says Alan Ando of Eastern Mountain Sports. "To go one step further, motorcycle helmets, again because of the high speeds and impact danger and force that can happen, they have a lot of insulation against impact."
To keep the cost of purchasing a helmet in perspective, Ando says it's still much less than the deductible on an emergency room visit.
For more travel news, visit www.travelwithval.com.