Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The main objective of this study was to assess the influencing factors in participants who do not use a helmet while skiing or snowboarding in the youth population.

DESIGN:

Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING:

The 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 ski seasons at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

PARTICIPANTS:

Children and adolescents between the ages of 6 to 17 years and their parents were enrolled in the study. Two hundred six children/adolescents participated.

INTERVENTIONS:

None. Independent variables include age, gender, parental helmet use, ski/snowboard helmet past protection, and child/adolescent reason for wearing/not wearing helmet.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

None. Dependent variables include child/adolescent helmet use.

RESULTS:

Fifty-one percent were male and 49% were female. One hundred seventy-one (83%) reported that they wear a ski/snowboard helmet, and 35 (17%) reported that they did not wear a ski/snowboard helmet. There was a significant relationship between parental helmet use and child helmet use (P ≤ 0.0001). Of the 171 children/adolescents who reported wearing a helmet, 124 (72.5%) reported that wearing a helmet protected them in an accident. Of the 171 children/adolescents who reported wearing a helmet, 87.7% said that safety was the reason for wearing a helmet. The most common reason for not wearing a ski/snowboard helmet was comfort.

CONCLUSIONS:

Parent's helmet-wearing behavior was strongly associated with the child/adolescent's helmet-wearing behavior. The results demonstrate the overwhelming influence parental helmet use has on their child/adolescent's decision to wear a helmet.