Fact Sheet on the National Ski Areas Association's
"Lids On Kids" Campaign

Who:
The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA)
National Ski Patrol
Professional Ski Instructors of America
American Association of Snowboard Instructors
North American International Brain Injury Society
National Safety Council
SnowSports Industries America
Participating state ski associations
Participating ski areas nationwide
Leading helmet manufacturers who advocate skier and snowboarder on-slope safety awareness and education: Acerbis, Ovo,Pro-Tec ans R.E.D.

What: www.lidsonkids.org. The website's objective is to educate parents about putting helmets on their children while they're on the slopes and to heighten awareness about helmet usage. The website contains frequently asked questions and answers about helmets, related articles, ski and snowboard related games, tips on how to get started in the sport and testimonials from U.S. Ski Team athletes and others who feel positively about wearing helmets. To download the Lids on Kids logo, click here. NSAA is also producing a poster with the message, "Helmets are a Smart Idea," to be displayed at ski areas' retail and rental shops nationwide.

When: The Lids on Kids helmet awareness campaign debuted for the 2002-2003 season.

Why: The "Lids On Kids" campaign is the newest addition to the National Ski Areas Association's already established "Heads Up" national ski and snowboard safety awareness campaign that was introduced in 1999. The purpose of developing the www.lidsonkids.org website is to establish a central place for parents to go to learn more about helmet usage on the slopes. The ski industry recognizes that there are inherent risks to skiing and snowboarding and personal responsibility is the key to one's safety. Overall, skiing and snowboarding have excellent safety records as a result of the industry's on-going safety education for its guests. Note: For more information about NSAA's "Heads Up" campaign, log on to NSAA's website, www.nsaa.org under skier/snowboarder safety.