About

Goal: To increase rates of helmet use among children and adult
skiers & riders in Vermont.

About The Team: After four successful years of tracking helmet use among skiers and snowboarders at two nearby ski areas, the Vermont Snow Sports Research Team today announced it is expanding its project further, thanks to a new collaboration with the Vermont Ski Areas Association (VSAA).

 

The Vermont Snow Sports Research Team, a partnership of Vermont Children's Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care and the University of Vermont College of Medicine, has been engaged in increasing voluntary ski helmet use among children to prevent serious head injuries. Much of the work has been done at Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, Vermont.  The ski areas at Bolton and Bromley VT were also used to gather data.

 

This new collaboration with the VSAA will allow the Snow Sports Research Team to expand its work.  It is anticipated that eight additional Vermont resorts from across the state will be included in this first phase of the project’s expansion, broadening the database significantly.

 

The project has been very successful to date with over 80% of children now in helmets at Smugglers’ Notch, up from 60% in the 2002-2003 season. Helmet use for adults has also shown large increases, with almost 60% of adult skiers and riders now using helmets, up from 30% on the 2002-2003 season. The study, based on more than 30,000 observations of skiers and riders over the last four winters, shows that among children female snowboarders are the least likely to wear a helmet, while younger male skiers are the most likely to wear a helmet.

A 1999 report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission revealed that 7,700 head injuries could be prevented every year if skiers and snowboarders wore helmets on the slopes.

 

The team has developed a poster, stickers and a brochure designed to appeal to young skiers and boarders that promotes helmet use.  The team adopted “Always ride PHAT” as the byline for its multi-year campaign.  PHAT is an acronym for “Protect your Head on All Terrain” and “Protect your Head at All Times.”

 

Supported By: VT Childrens Hospital at Fletcher Allen Hospital, VT Ski Areas Association, VT Health Foundation, The Children's Miracle Network, and UVM College of Medicine.