Helmet Debate

[BrumJim]

Do you wear a helmet, and if so, why:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16715883

(and DON'T mention cycling!)

 

[fossyant]

 

[machew]

The death of Natasha Richardson was almost totally avoidable. She refused treatment twice and only she had a headache three hours later did she go to the hospital. The hospital then transferred to another hospital four hours later, the next day she was transferred again to another hospital. Had one of these hospital performed a CT scan then a simple bur hole in her skull may have saved her life
If you have a LOC lasting more than one minute, or dramatic worsening of a headache, or post-concussion syndrome, then a CT scan is recommended. This has been the case since 2004.
Without treatment,just a simple bur hole or "Tap on the head", within the "Golden Hour" the mortality rate of a subdural hematoma is about 50%. With treatment the rate is <10%.

The accident rates for skiing are well below the rates for cycling the overall injury risk combining all the snow sports is about 0.2% to 0.4%
About 10% of accidents result from a collision with another person or object, 5% are lift related and 5% occur as the result of equipment failure. Secondary factors are of course important – for example impact with solid snow or ice

Would I wear a helmet, it depends, if I was racing then yes; if the conditions were bad then maybe. But on a normal day then perhaps no

 

[DiddlyDodds]

Must be a slow day on here to get another helmet debate.
When i am wearing mine anyone else who passes me without one is a clown , when i am not wearing one and some passes they are a conformist sheep , so hey ho whistle twice spin round and kiss yer ass to lateral thinking.

 

[Peteaud]

yes i wear one, yes i may look stupid, do i care - no.

My bonce v Big tree = tree winning

 

[ufkacbln]

yes i wear one, yes i may look stupid, do i care - no.

My bonce v Big tree = tree winning

Try a ski route without trees then?

 

[Theseus]

Despite not requiring the girls to wear helmets when cycling (see new thread in helmet forum) when they are having lessons at the local dry ski slope (Hill End) they both wear them.

After all they are learning and are expected to fall over from time to time.

 

[BrumJim]

I do. It keeps my head, and, in particular, my ears nice and warm, prevents sun-burn if the skies are clear, and therefore reduces the time and effort of sun-creaming my ever-growing bald spot.

On a dry slope, I don't think that you head is at risk, certainly not as much as your fingers are. In a tree hugging contest, I think my ribs would crack long before my skull, and I DO think that it encourages me to go faster. Which is good.

At work I wear a bump-cap when working on site, a hard hat when visiting suppliers, a cycle helmet when on my bike, and a ski hat when ski-ing. I fell somewhat naked when leaving the house without head-gear these days.

 

[sunnyjim]

I do. It keeps my head, and, in particular, my ears nice and warm, prevents sun-burn if the skies are clear, and therefore reduces the time and effort of sun-creaming my ever-growing bald spot.

On a dry slope, I don't think that you head is at risk, certainly not as much as your fingers are. In a tree hugging contest, I think my ribs would crack long before my skull, and I DO think that it encourages me to go faster. Which is good.

At work I wear a bump-cap when working on site, a hard hat when visiting suppliers, a cycle helmet when on my bike, and a ski hat when ski-ing. I fell somewhat naked when leaving the house without head-gear these days.

As long as you've got the ability to stay in control & not hit other skiers (even the ones that magically do a 180 degree snowplough turn right in front of you)fine, but in general helmeted skiers (and even worse, boarders) on pistes frighten me. If someone thinks they're going to crash to the extent they need a hard hat, I assume imcompetence and don't want them ski-ing anywhere near me.

Off piste through trees /over cliffs is a different story, but I'm not likely to be there.

 

[Francesca]

You should wear a helmet in any kind of activity were your head may suffer an impact...it could save your life...simple.
No ifs and buts, if you look like a complete tosser - who gives dam?? safety is paramount..no excuses.

 

[sunnyjim]

You should wear a helmet in any kind of activity were your head may suffer an impact...it could save your life...simple.
No ifs and buts, if you look like a complete tosser - who gives dam?? safety is paramount..no excuses.

 

[Theseus]

You should wear a helmet in any kind of activity were your head may suffer an impact...it could save your life...simple.
No ifs and buts, if you look like a complete tosser - who gives dam?? safety is paramount..no excuses.

<At the risk of getting this moved to the appropriate part of the forum ...>

Does his include the risk of impacts to your head when you go for a walk?

 

[Cheddar George]

My kids have always worn a helmet but i never have, however, i will be wearing one my next ski trip after witnessing a low speed collision where a learner ran into the person next to me coming off a chair lift. Both were wearing helmets and the noise they made when they made contact was like a pistol shot despite the low speed. I suddenly became aware of the amount of people wearing helmets and the potential damage they could do to me if they ran into me.

 

[BrumJim]

<At the risk of getting this moved to the appropriate part of the forum ...>

Does his include the risk of impacts to your head when you go for a walk?

Indeed, or out for a run (higher speed, greater probability of impact).

My Mum once got caught by a speed camera. As in walked into one whilst distracted, rather than doing 35 in a 30 zone. Massive bruise on forehead, but fortunately was going to watch a game of rugby (Come on you Tigers!) and was looked after by the club doctor for most of the first half. She doesn't insist on wearing head protection whilst out urban walking, but would rather I wore a helmet when ski-ing. You are always at risk of a head injury, but will we get to the point where no one gets out of bed without putting a helmet on?

Started ski-ing with one due to being pressurised by those around me, and now wear one because I like doing so. The protection is now a distant secondary benefit.

 

[BrumJim]

The difference between ski-ing and more wheel-based activities is that when you've been kissing snow, the first question asked isn't "were you wearing a helmet?"