‘Tis the season to think about wearing a helmet — and putting one on the kids
By MARILYN LINTON, SUN MEDIA

Do call Dr. Charles Tator “helmet head.”

A top Canadian brain surgeon and seasoned skier, he wears a helmet every time he hits the slopes.

Round the world traumatic brain injuries are on the rise, probably due to increased speed and acrobatics in skiing and snowboarding and helmets definitely save lives, says Tator, the foremost expert on spinal cord and head injuries in sports.

Head injuries are the most common cause of death among skiers and snowboarders. But 44% of skiing and snowboarding head injuries could be prevented simply by wearing a helmet. Despite these figures, helmets are not mandatory on Canadian slopes.

Though you can now buy helmets that meet Canadian Safety Association standards, there are still ski helmets on the market that do not have CSA approval.

“The (CSA) committee worked several years and undertook a detailed scientific exercise to decide on the required level of protection in snow sports’ helmets,” says Tator who also founded ThinkFirst Canada, a national non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of brain and spinal cord injuries.

Put a lid on it! That’s the advice from ski helmet advocates who would like to amend Canada’s Hazardous Products Act to require that snow sports helmets meet CSA standards.

In Tator’s view, anyone who skis — at whatever level and on whatever kind of slope — should wear a helmet.

And while ski schools make kids wear helmets and some resorts are finally recommending helmets for adults, Tator doesn’t feel the helmet movement has moved fast enough: “Some legislation and enforcement would be a good idea.”

Helmets can prevent what Tator calls “the most catastrophic of brain injuries.” They can prevent fractures of the skull and fragments of the bone penetrating into the brain, he explains. They can prevent blood clots from forming in and around the brain (the kind of injury that is thought to have killed the actress Natasha Richardson whose unprotected head hit the slopes last March on the very Quebec hill on which Tator had skied just two weeks before.)

“If an unhelmeted head hits the icy surface or a firm object like a tree or a ski lift, that can cause a blood clot,” he explains. “These are the ways people die on the slopes from head injuries.” (Helmets, however, won’t prevent a concussion which is the movement of the brain within the skull due to the brain being jostled because of a collision or even a whiplash.)

In a research paper co-authored by Tator, the rise in traumatic brain injuries coincide with the development of and acceptance of acrobatic and high speed activities on the mountains. But even though most traumatic snow sport injuries happen to risk-taking young men, Richardson was just an ordinary skier. Traumatic head injuries can be devastating and therapeutic interventions to restore neurological function in survivors may be limited.

Unlike yesteryear, says Tator, ski hills today are groomed for speed and equipment allows for it. “There are more terrain parks where you can do aerial activities, including jumps. When you ‘catch air’ you take on added risk but even a pro can’t perform 100 percent every minute. If you think you can emulate aerials like the experts, you could come down on your head and break your neck.”

Protection is the cure. “In general, force is the product of mass and acceleration,” he says. “As people are bigger and able to ski faster, the forces become so great that the head and spine cannot withstand the degree of force. The tearing or bruising of the brain can produce permanent deficits.”

Which helmet?

The right snow sport helmet saves lives, says Dr. Tator, an experienced skier and one of Canada’s top neurosurgeons. Ski helmets can be single or multiple impact helmets (check the manufacturer’s label.) They should cover more of the back of the head than a bicycle helmet. For exact specifications, go to www.thinkfirst.ca for invaluable sports safety information plus a video on ski safety.

Monkey see, monkey do

Kids look to parents as role models, so parents should practice what they preach. Wear a helmet whenever and wherever you ski. Apply the “no helmet, no skiing or snowboarding” rule.

Know the code

“We believe in alpine responsibility,” says Dr. Charles Tator, founder of ThinkFirst Canada. The international alpine responsibility code can reduce risk on the slopes. Here’s what to know:

Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.

People ahead of you have the right-of-way.

Do not stop where you obstruct a trail or are not visible from above.

Before starting downhill or merging onto a trail, look uphill and yield to others.

If involved in an accident or collision, stat at the scene and identify yourself to the Ski Patrol.

Always use proper devices to help prevent runaway equipment.

Observe and obey all posted signs.

Keep off closed trails and closed areas.

Do not use lifts or terrain if your ability is impaired through alcohol or drugs.

You must have sufficient physical dexterity, ability and knowledge to safely load, ride and unload lifts.