Each year, between 12,000 and 16,000 skiers and boarders leave the slopes with head injuries, which account for about 14 percent of all snowsliding injuries, reports the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Only a few years ago, a non-racer wearing a helmet on the slopes was almost as rare as a snowboarder in Taos. Today, helmeted skiers and boarders, adults and children alike, can be seen at every resort in the World.

But even with helmets flying off store shelves, the percentage of skiers and boarders wearing them remains small; estimates hover around 5 percent. For many non-helmeted snowsliders, certain questions remain:

Do helmets really work?

"When head banging occurs, helmets can do a lot to lessen the damage", contends Dr. Stewart Levy, a neurosurgeon at InterMountain Neurosurgery & Neuroscience, a division of St. Anthony's Central Hospital in Denver, Colorado.

Results of the French campaign "Put your helmet on!":

The French campaign "Put your helmet on!" began in 1994 with the aim of encouraging and educating all children in the safety benefits of helmet use.

It was pointed out that other head protections are simply not sufficient in removing the risk of head injury.

Now, 90% of the kids < 10years wear a helmet in France.

How a helmet works?

The most common head injuries among skiers are impact injuries:

Damage to the skull occurs at the point of impact.

Often, the collision makes the brain bounce inside the skull, also causing damage to the part of the brain opposite the point of impact. Helmets can reduce the severity of impact on both sides of the brain.

What about the helmet standards?

The main current norms regarding alpine helmets are CE-EN 1077 and ASTM F-2040. Only helmets answering to these norms ensure a real protection. In Europe, to conform to the EPI guideline (individual protection equipment), alpine helmets must be validated according to the CE-EN 1077 by an accredited European laboratory (i.e.: TÜV).

CE-EN 1077: European certification standard for "protective helmets". This European norm specifies the minimum performance requirements and the test methods concerning the helmets, which should be worn by alpine skiers, including kids and competitors. These corresponding prescriptions and test methods cover the following topics: construction, including field of view; impact energy absorption capacities; penetration resistance; retention system features; branding and information.

TÜV: It is a certification organisation that is accredited in Europe to test and certify products to the European standard.

ASTM- F 2040: ASTM means American Society for Testing and Materials. This North American Society recommendation defines performance requirements for helmets used by non-motorised recreational snow sports (i.e. skiing, snowboarding, and other alpine sports). This specification is a performance recommendation and is not intended to restrict design. This recommendation from the ASTM committee differs from the CE standard in that it uses different impact energy and requirements, applies a hemispherical anvil and an edge anvil and does not apply a penetration test.

What about using a helmet again after receiving a shock?

The helmet may, after receiving an impact, be damaged to the point that it is no longer adequate to protect your head against further impacts. This damage may be not visible, so it must be replaced even if it seems to be in good condition. No helmets, even motorcycles ones, can resist at a multishock impact without damages.

What is the role of style and comfort?

Forget statistics, forget scientific evidence, style and comfort are often the main barriers to skiers wearing helmets. Many think a helmet screams "geek;" others complain that a lid is too hot or that it muffles sound. But these barriers are beginning to crumble. Psychologically people are becoming more comfortable with helmets. Fewer feel like it will make them look wimpy. In fact the image perception is starting to swing the other way especially among snowboarders. It portrays a more extreme attitude.

Helmets are increasingly user-friendly as well, with manufacturers offering better ventilation, lighter-weight materials, improved sightlines, and removable liners, less obstruction to hearing and more style-conscious designs.

When buying a helmet, consider choosing one that has met established standards, such as the Central European Norm, the ASTM standard, which was finalised earlier this year, or two standards (one for racers) by the Snell Memorial Foundation in North Highlands, California. To meet one of these standards, a helmet must pass rigorous tests of stability, head coverage and impact protection.

Head-coverage standards are relatively high for snowsports helmets, so some "shorty" or half-helmets may not meet them. Sorting through the various standards can be confusing. The important thing to remember is that choosing an approved helmet helps ensure that it will be effective when you need it to be.

Comfort

When it comes to comfort, all helmets are not equal. Just as different brands and styles of shoes are more suited to your foot shape, some helmets will fit your head better than others.

Here are some tips from the Snell Memorial Foundation, a helmet-testing organisation, to ensure a good fit.

Adapted

Place the helmet level on your head, so that it sits low on your forehead. If you tilt your eyes upward, you should be able to see the edge of the helmet.

Good Stability

Adjust the chin-strap so that when buckled it holds the helmet firmly in place. Try to remove the helmet without undoing the chin-strap. If it comes off or shifts over your eyes, readjust and try again. You should not be able to move it more than an inch in any direction. If no adjustment seems to work, this helmet is not for you.

Good adjustment, Ventilation and materials.

Test your strap adjustment each time you put on your helmet; otherwise it may not work when you need it to. It will also pay to be choosy in terms of design. Consider which features will be important to you. For some, ventilation is key, while others are concerned about weight or goggle-compatibility. With any design, test its effect on your hearing and field of vision before you buy.

After any big crash, or heavy impact, it's important to replace your helmet. Most helmets use a crushable liner made of expanded polystyrene (EPS), which can only handle one hard thump. Generally, the damage will be visible on the helmet.

Some helmets use expanded polypropylene (EPP), which slowly rebounds after crushing, allowing it to take more than one small to medium-sized hit. Its effectiveness does diminish with each impact, however, even if it appears undamaged, so the helmet should be replaced after several smaller crashes or one severe blow. Some companies offer to replace the helmet at a discounted price if you've been involved in a serious crash.

CONCLUSION

"Each year, in the US, between 12,000 and 16,000 skiers and boarders leave the slopes with head injuries, which account for about 14 percent of all snowsliding injuries" (Source CPSC).

"Helmets could prevent or reduce the severity of nearly 8 000 on-slope head injuries each year". Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Colorado neurosurgeons studied 395 skiers and snowboarders with head injuries. They concluded that helmets may have prevented or reduced the severity of injury in many of these instances.

Helmets are increasingly user-friendly as well, with manufacturers offering better ventilation, lighter-weight materials, improved sightlines, and removable liners, less obstruction to hearing and more style-conscious designs.

Wearing a helmet helps to prevent injuries from falls and collisions.