1) What changes in the law about wearing helmets when skiing have occured in recent years?
The most recent changes have been the introduction of mandatory helmet laws in countries across the world. These laws involve making it compulsory for skiers under a certain age to wear a helmet whist skiing on any resort in that country or region, the set age differs from country to country although in those which have adopted this law the general feeling seems to be aimed at protecting children the most with the lowest age in western Europe being 14 in Italy. As these are laws in some countries it means that the ski resort gets penalised by the government if skiers are found without helmets in those areas and so the resorts have begun to introduce penalties themselves for skiers found to be breaking the law.
2) Where are these laws concerning skiing implemented?
In most of western Europe these types of rules have already been introduced in countries around the Alps such as Italy and Austria and some states in the U.S such as New Jersey and California but other states such as Colorado are under pressure to implement similar laws aswell, also the province of Nova Scotia in Canada has set these laws. Some other countries have introduced alternative safety regulations such as a speed limits this has been done for a section of the pieste in the ski resort of Grindelwald, Switzerland.
http://www.ehow.com/list_7240227_ski-helmet-regulations.html
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_15968389
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_15968389
3) Why are these rules being introduced to ski resorts?
These rules are being introduced to ski resorts around the world as studies have shown that wearing a helmet during an incident involving a collision with the head can significantly reduce the amount of damage done to the brain. In order to reduce the amount of injuries requiring professional intervention on the mountain such as blows to the head resulting in loss of consciousness or severe back/leg injuries, it also makes it safer for both individuals if there is a collision between two skiers. One study showed that when wearing an approved helmet the difference in deceleration of the brain when involved in a collision compared with no helmet, showed that the amount of G force exerted on the brain as it slowed was significantly less and so there is less chance of severe brain damage.
http://www.wildsnow.com/4713/ski-helmets-backcountry/
http://www.wildsnow.com/4713/ski-helmets-backcountry/
4) Are these rules making it safer for skiers and boarders?
Studies have shown that wearing a helmet during a collision can reduce the amount of damage to the brain but there are counter arguments stating that helmets can reduce the amount of peripheral vision an individual has whilst skiing. Also some people have mentioned that individuals wearing helmets may feel more inclined to ski dangerously as they feel they are fully protected, thus resulting in more accidents then would have previously happened.
5) Who would be effected by these changes in the law?
New laws are being implimented across Europe and the United States making it manditory for children to wear helmets, Josef Schmid from the Austrian Skiing Federation has shown his support for the manditory wearing of helmets for people of all ages and has been quoted as saying "It's not just young children - adults also need protection. With the new carving skis, people tend to ski faster and overestimate their abilities. The slopes are very busy; it's safer for everyone if you wear a helmet".ITALY:
In Italy it is compulsary for all children under the age of 14 to wear a helmet at all times when skiing/snowboarding. Failure to adhere to this can result in a fine of up to 150 euros, parents are responsible for children under their care.
AUSTRIA:
Authorites are set to make it manditory for children under the age of 15 to wear a helmet, although each province makes its own decision. At this time only the province of Lower Austria has introduced this rule.
CANADA:
There are no country-wide rules rgulation the wearing of helmets although the province of Nova Scotia has recently brought in and going into effect on in November 2012 will force people of all ages to wear helmets or incure a fine of $250.
UNITED STATES:
The states of New Jersey and California are set to introduce law requireding all those under the age of 18 to wear a helmet whilst skiing or snowboarding, with New Jersey implementing a $25 - $100 fine for people found flauting this law and California starting with a $25 fine.
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