What Kinds of Helmets Can Kids Wear for Skiing?

Of the 600,000 ski slope injuries reported annually, around 20 percent of those are head injuries, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. However, helmets can reduce the severity or prevent a head injury on the slopes. Encouraging your child to take ski lessons or join a ski club during cold weather months makes for fun and good exercise, but only if safety precautions are observed. Use helmets and make skiing safer, but attend to details such as the correct type, size and fit.

  1. Ski Helmets

    • Parents can purchase helmets made specifically for skiing. When shopping for a ski helmet, look for a label stating the helmet complies with ASTM F2040, or Snell RS-98 or S-98. ASTM International has technical committees that develop standards for products, materials and services. The Snell Memorial Foundation, which deals exclusively with helmet safety, develops standards and tests helmets before certifying them.

    Other Helmets

    • Manufacturers design ski helmets to meet specific needs for skiers. If you allow your child to wear other types of helmets, it may not provide adequate impact protection for the sport of skiing. For example, most children own bicycle helmets and parents may be tempted to have them serve double duty for skiing. However, along with the uncertainty of safety, bike helmets have vents designed for keeping bikers cool in hot weather and do not offer proper insulation and comfort for skiing.

    Helmet Fit

    • A poorly fitting helmet will not perform properly in the event of a fall. Get the most safety from a helmet by trying on different brands and styles. If you purchase a helmet online, check the return policy in case the fit is not right. Take a tape measure and put it just above the ears and about 1" above the eyebrows to get head circumference. Then use the chart on the box to determine the size. Bring your goggles with you when helmet shopping so you can decide if the helmet will be comfortable and fit with goggles.

    Limitations

    • Helmets have the potential to reduce the severity of or prevent head injuries, but keep in mind that they work best at speeds under 14 mph, according to Lids on Kids. Prevention of injury depends in part on good safety equipment, but the rest is up to the skier. Teach kids to ski safely and avoid reckless behavior on the slopes.

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