Do Helmets Reduce Fatalities or Merely Alter the Patterns of Death?

Shealy, Jasper E.; Johnson, Robert J.; Ettlinger, CF

doi:10.1520/stp47464s

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The authors found that helmet use was significantly higher among those who died of a non-head-related injury than among those who died of a head injury. 33 Although wearing a helmet reduces the risk of head injury, there is concern that helmets may increase the risk of neck injury, particularly among children. Our pooled results and the individual studies showed no significant association between helmet use and increased risk of neck injury.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of helmets on the risk of head and neck injuries among skiers and snowboarders: a meta-analysis

Russell¹,

Christie²,

Hagel³

2010

Canadian Medical Association Journal

171

118

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Background:The prevention of head injuries in alpine activities has focused on helmets. However, no systematic review has examined the effect of helmets on head and neck injuries among skiers and snowboarders. Methods:We searched electronic databases, conference proceedings and reference lists using a combination of the key words "head injury or head trauma," "helmet" and "skiing or snowboarding." We included studies that used a control group; compared skiers or snowboarders with and without helmets; and measured at least one objectively quantified outcome (e.g., head injury, and neck or cervical injury). Results:We included 10 case-control, 1 case-control/ casecrossover and 1 cohort study in our analysis. The pooled odds ratio (OR) indicated that skiers and snowboarders with a helmet were significantly less likely than those without a helmet to have a head injury (OR 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55-0.79). The result was similar for studies that used controls without an injury (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.36-0.92), those that used controls with an injury other than a head or neck injury (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.52-0.80) and studies that included children under the age of 13 years (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.27-0.59). Helmets were not associated with an increased risk of neck injury (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.72-1.09).Interpretation: Our findings show that helmets reduce the risk of head injury among skiers and snowboarders with no evidence of an increased risk of neck injury. AbstractStudies identified through search of electronic databases n = 184Potentially relevant studies n = 36Studies that met inclusion criteria n = 12Studies identified through search of grey literature n = 203Figure 1: Results of literature search.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of helmets on the risk of head and neck injuries among skiers and snowboarders: a meta-analysis

Russell¹,

Christie²,

Hagel³

2010

Canadian Medical Association Journal

171

118

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“…by training -resulting in injuries) in athletes of different countries as: Poland 71% Austria 38% and Greece 37% [11,13]. Shealy, et al [34,35] concluded that the use of a helmet was associated with a reduction in the number of minor head injuries, but no such reduction was observed for the more serious forms of head trauma. Tuli, et al [28] and Young [36] dealt with the dangerous and likelihood of injury in relation to the practice of skiing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The characteristics of Poland’s alpine skier’s (students) related to the frequency of accidents

Aschenbrenner

Giovanis

2018

PES

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Purpose:The purpose of this research was to record the characteristics of Poland's alpine skier's (students) in relation to the frequency of accidents. In this research 66 skiers participated (50 men and 16 women). Material:The specimens came by recreational skiers (beginners -advanced) in the ski resort in Passo Tonale (Italy). The research material came from analysis of completed questionnaires from 66 Polish skiers. They have recorded four categories of factors: a) individual factors b) factors of preparation in the snow in relation to injuries c) factors of preparation in dry ground in relation to injuries d) factors of injuries. Results:About 6,3% Polish skiers respondents had in the past, an accident in alpine skiing. In the Polish population the number of beginner skiers is overriding, with a few years of training in skiing, however with several days training a year using a ski instructor teacher for warming up and individual form of learning. Conclusions:Skiers who don't had physical fitness preparation before the winter season, had a greater percentage of accidents and injuries. Polish skiers usually had limb injuries lower extremities (sprains) due to the reckless of the skiers.

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“…Whether males have increased risk taking behaviour or less helmet usage is unclear. Non-helmet users were 2.3 times more likely to die from a head injury than helmet users [90].…”

Section: Effects Of Equipmentmentioning

confidence: 92%

Recreational Snow-Sports Injury Risk Factors and Countermeasures: A Meta-Analysis Review and Haddon Matrix Evaluation

et al. 2015

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Snow sports injuries risk factors and countermeasures 2 listed above qualify for authorship based on making one or more of the substantial contributions to the intellectual content of the manuscript.The opinions expressed are those solely of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Accident Compensation Corporation, New Zealand. Abstract Background:Snow sports (alpine skiing/snowboarding) would benefit from easily implemented and cost effective injury prevention countermeasures that are effective at reducing injury rate and severity. Objective:For snow sports, to identify risk factors and to quantify evidence for effectiveness of injury prevention countermeasures. Methods:Searches of electronic literature databases to February 2014 identified 98 journal articles focused on snow sports that met inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Pooled odds ratios with 90% confidence interval and inferences (OR; 90%CI, % likelihood benefit/harm) were calculated using data from 55 studies using a spread sheet for combining independent groups with a weighting factor based on quality rating scores for effects. Results:More experienced skiers and snowboarders are more likely to sustain an injury as the result of jumps, while beginners sustain injuries primarily as a result of falls. Key risk factors that countermeasure interventions should focus on include beginner skiers (OR 2.72; 90%CI 2.15-3.44, 99% most likely harmful), beginner snowboarders (OR 2.66; 90%CI 2.08-3.40, 99% harmful), skiers/snowboarders who rent snow equipment (OR 2.58; 90%CI 1.98-3.37, 99% harmful) and poor visibility due to inclement weather (OR 2.69; 90%CI 1.43-5.07, 97% harmful). Effective countermeasures include helmets for skiers/snowboarders to prevent head injuries (OR 0.58; 90%CI 0.51-0.66, 99% most likely beneficial), and wrist guards for snowboarders to prevent wrist injuries (OR 0.33; 90%CI 0.23-0.47, 99% beneficial). Discussion:Snow sports injuries risk factors and countermeasures 3 The review identified key risk factors for snow sport injuries and evaluated the evidence for the effectiveness of existing injury prevention countermeasures in recreational (general public use of slopes, not racing) snow sports using a Haddon's matrix conceptual framework for injury causation (host/snow sport participant, agent/mechanism and environment/community). Conclusion:Best evidence for effectiveness of injury prevention countermeasures in recreational snow sports was for the use of helmets and wrist guards and to address low visibility issues via weather reports and signage.

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Do Helmets Reduce Fatalities or Merely Alter the Patterns of Death?

Cited by 8 publications

References 7 publications

The effect of helmets on the risk of head and neck injuries among skiers and snowboarders: a meta-analysis

The effect of helmets on the risk of head and neck injuries among skiers and snowboarders: a meta-analysis

The characteristics of Poland’s alpine skier’s (students) related to the frequency of accidents

Recreational Snow-Sports Injury Risk Factors and Countermeasures: A Meta-Analysis Review and Haddon Matrix Evaluation

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