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Contact: Troy Hawks
NSAA Communications
(720) 963-4215
thawks@nsaa.org
NSAA Helmet Usage Fact Sheet
September 13, 2009 - According to the 2008/09 NSAA National
Demographic Study, helmet usage by skiers and snowboarders nationwide increased 12
percent over the previous season. As a result of industry safety and educational
initiatives, helmet usage in the United States has continually increased over the
past several seasons. Other findings from the most recent Demographic Study show that:
- 48 percent of U.S. skiers and boarders overall wear helmets, up from 43
percent from the year before; in comparison, only 25 percent of skiers and boarders
wore helmets during the 2002/03 season;
- 77 percent of children 9 years old or younger wear ski helmets;
- 66 percent of children between 10 and 14 wear ski helmets;
- 63 percent of adults over the age of 65 wear ski helmets;
- Helmet usage by skiers and boarders aged 18 to 24 is currently 32 percent,
representing a 78 percent increase in usage for this age group since the 2002/03
season, when only 18 percent wore helmets.
- Overall ski helmet sales (adults and kids) have increased 43 percent
over the past two years, dating back to the 2006/07 ski season. Sales of
adult ski helmets alone increased 50 percent since the 2006/07 season,
according to the Snowsports Industries of America (SIA) annual Retail Audit.
- Notably, helmet usage increases with the skier's ability level.
Twenty-six percent of beginners wear helmets, 38 percent of intermediates
wear helmets while 55 percent of advanced skiers and riders wear helmets.
In comparison, the National Traffic Safety Administration reports only 20
to 25 percent of bike riders in the U.S. wear helmets.
This fall, NSAA will be launching a new initiative designed to encourage all kids
14 and under to wear ski helmets. NSAA has set a goal of near-universal helmet usage
for all children by 2012. It's an aggressive goal, but it's also an important one.
Look for our new campaign this fall!
Furthermore, NSAA promotes the use of helmets. We
urge skiers and riders to wear a helmet – but to ski or ride as if they are not
wearing a helmet. NSAA views skiing and boarding in a controlled and responsible manner
– not helmets only – as the primary safety consideration for all skiers and boarders.
A skier's behavior has as much or more to do with the safety of the sport as does any piece of equipment.
The key safety message that NSAA and its member resorts communicate to skiers
and boarders is adherence to "Your Responsibility Code," a widely known and accepted
code of conduct for the slopes that has been in use by ski areas for approximately 30 years.
One of the main tenets of "The Code" is always stay in control. NSAA considers responsible
and safe skiing and riding as the number one priority and helmet use as an important priority.
In 2002, NSAA launched the "Lids on Kids" interactive website (www.lidsonkids.org)
in an effort to educate kids and parents about helmet use on the slopes. The central
message of the website is that helmets are a "smart idea," but guests should ski and
ride as if they are not wearing one. Information on helmets is provided extensively
in related safety websites and signage at resorts through the Smart Style, Get Smart,
Heads Up, A.S.A.P. (Avalanche Safety Awareness Program) and Winter Kids programs.
The newly issued Terrain Park User's Guide, terrainparksafety.org and terrain park
signage also include key safety messages on helmets. Visit www.nsaa.org for information
on all of these safety programs.
NSAA supported and actively participated in the American Society of Testing &
Materials (ASTM's) development of the F-2040 ski/snowboard helmet standard. On
behalf of the ski industry, NSAA has also supported, and expended significant
resources on, scientific research on alpine sports-related injuries, including head injuries.
FOOTNOTE: Data contained within the annual NSAA National Demographic Study is
compiled from more than 130,000 interviews of skiers and riders nationwide. A complete
copy of the 2008/09 study will be available in August.
THE NATIONAL SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION, LOCATED IN LAKEWOOD, COLO., IS A TRADE ASSOCIATION FORMED IN 1962 FOR SKI AREA OWNERS AND OPERATORS NATIONWIDE.
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