SUNDAY, Nov. 3, 2002 (HealthDayNews) -- Put lids on your kids.
That's the message from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), which recently launched a new Web site to educate parents about how important it is for children to wear helmets when they're skiing.
Here's where to go to find the Lids on Kids site.
"Wearing a helmet can help reduce the severity of a head injury under many circumstances," says NSAA president Michael Berry.
"We recommend that parents, skiers and snowboarders educate themselves about the benefits and limitations of helmets and make an informed choice about whether to wear one or have their child wear one," he says.
The Web site includes testimonials from U.S. Ski Team athletes and others about helmets, along with frequently asked questions and answers about helmets, related articles, and ski and snowboard games.
NSAA also plans to distribute posters promoting the use of helmets to ski areas across the country.
Serious head injures account for about 2.6 percent of reported ski injures each season. Wearing a helmet is one way to prevent such injuries. However, Berry says safe and responsible behavior on the ski slopes is another way to prevent any kind of injury.
Follow the ski code rules, which include:
- Always stay in control.
- People ahead of you have the right of way.
- Stop in a safe place for you and others.
- Whenever starting downhill or merging, look uphill and yield.
- Use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
- Observe signs and warnings and keep off closed trails.
- Know how to use the lifts safely.
More information
There's more to learn about ski safety at the National Safety Council.
