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Posted on 01/26/2008 7:36:44 AM PST by Mr. Brightside
Michigan lawmakers push helmet requirement for skiers, snowboarders
by CLAY TAYLOR | Capital News Service Saturday
January 26, 2008, 9:34 AM
LANSING - Downhill skiers and snowboarders without head protection may find a hefty fine waiting for them at the bottom of the slope.
A new bill by Rep. Bob Constan calling for mandatory helmets comes fast on the heels of a fatal skiing accident in December.
Clare Dougherty, 13, of Canton Township died from a head injury on Shanty Creek Resort's Schuss Mountain in Bellaire. She was pronounced dead on arrival at Kalkaska Memorial Health Center on Christmas Day.
Authorities said a helmet could have prevented her death.
"We can't say for sure in any one instance what the outcome would have been, but for certain accidents there is no question it would help," said Jim Austin, the hospital's administrator. "It's just like wearing seat belts. They save lives, just not all lives."
Safety is the bill's primary concern, Constan said.
"We require that people wear helmets in other situations," Constan said. "People knowing that helmets are available is not enough."
Constan said the bill, which has support from the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights Ski Clubs, was inspired by constituents who had family members injured while skiing and snowboarding.
The bill calls for a $100 fine for those caught without helmets, but Constan said that fines would not be strictly enforced.
"I don't want to see someone with a $100 fine who's an experienced skier," Constan said, "but the time has come to encourage people to wear helmets when skiing."
Co-sponsors include Reps. Coleman Young, D-Detroit, and Aldo Vagnozzi, D-Farmington Hills.
Most of Michigan's ski resorts - including Apple Mountain Resort, Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands, Crystal Mountain, Nub's Nob Ski Area and Snowsnake Ski and Golf - provide helmets to rent for about $5-$10 a day.
There is industry opposition to the idea.
In a statement, Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain said while helmet use is encouraged, "we don't think this new legislation is the way to go. We believe that helmets are a good idea but not necessarily for all skiing and riding situations."
That sentiment was echoed by John Cleary, general manager of Snowsnake in Harrison.
"I think it should be left up to the individual," Cleary said. "We recommend it, but we believe it's a matter of personal preference."
He said most skiers at Snowsnake wear helmets, and anyone participating in freestyle events must wear one.
He said he isn't sure how often Snowsnake's skiers suffer head injuries.
"It's not a real frequent thing," he said. "It's hard to put a number on it."
A report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that head injuries account for 14 percent of skiing and snowboarding accidents, as well as 56 percent of related deaths.
No other states have laws that require helmet use, according to the National Ski Areas Association, a trade organization for ski area owners and operators headquartered in Colorado.
The association says that on average 38 people died each year for the past 10 years from skiing or snowboarding accidents. An average of 42 people suffered serious injuries, which includes head injuries.
NSAA President Michael Berry said that it's most important to encourage dialogue about the responsibility of making educated decisions regarding helmet use, rather than making helmet use mandatory.
"You shouldn't put one on and think that's all you need to do," Berry said.
He recommends that skiers wear helmets, but ski as if they're not.
The bill, which would amend a 1962 law that outlines basic skiing regulations, is under review by the House Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Committee.Authorities said a helmet could have prevented her death.
"We can't say for sure in any one instance what the outcome would have been, but for certain accidents there is no question it would help," said Jim Austin, the hospital's administrator. "It's just like wearing seat belts. They save lives, just not all lives."
Safety is the bill's primary concern, Constan said.
"We require that people wear helmets in other situations," Constan said. "People knowing that helmets are available is not enough."
Constan said the bill, which has support from the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights Ski Clubs, was inspired by constituents who had family members injured while skiing and snowboarding.
The bill calls for a $100 fine for those caught without helmets, but Constan said that fines would not be strictly enforced.
"I don't want to see someone with a $100 fine who's an experienced skier," Constan said, "but the time has come to encourage people to wear helmets when skiing."
Co-sponsors include Reps. Coleman Young, D-Detroit, and Aldo Vagnozzi, D-Farmington Hills.
Most of Michigan's ski resorts - including Apple Mountain Resort, Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands, Crystal Mountain, Nub's Nob Ski Area and Snowsnake Ski and Golf - provide helmets to rent for about $5-$10 a day.
There is industry opposition to the idea.
In a statement, Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain said while helmet use is encouraged, "we don't think this new legislation is the way to go. We believe that helmets are a good idea but not necessarily for all skiing and riding situations."
That sentiment was echoed by John Cleary, general manager of Snowsnake in Harrison.
"I think it should be left up to the individual," Cleary said. "We recommend it, but we believe it's a matter of personal preference."
He said most skiers at Snowsnake wear helmets, and anyone participating in freestyle events must wear one.
He said he isn't sure how often Snowsnake's skiers suffer head injuries.
"It's not a real frequent thing," he said. "It's hard to put a number on it."
A report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that head injuries account for 14 percent of skiing and snowboarding accidents, as well as 56 percent of related deaths.
No other states have laws that require helmet use, according to the National Ski Areas Association, a trade organization for ski area owners and operators headquartered in Colorado.
The association says that on average 38 people died each year for the past 10 years from skiing or snowboarding accidents. An average of 42 people suffered serious injuries, which includes head injuries.
NSAA President Michael Berry said that it's most important to encourage dialogue about the responsibility of making educated decisions regarding helmet use, rather than making helmet use mandatory.
"You shouldn't put one on and think that's all you need to do," Berry said.
He recommends that skiers wear helmets, but ski as if they're not.
The bill, which would amend a 1962 law that outlines basic skiing regulations, is under review by the House Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Committee.
Michigan actually has quite a good skiing tradition with 40 or so ski areas. None of them can compare with mountain resorts of course, but there is plenty of opportunity.
I used to help run a junior high ski club for about 30 years. In fact we went to the same local ski place as the Dearborn ski club mentioned in the story.
That said, I believe that snowboarders ought to wear helmets because they fall very often as falling is in the nature fo that sport. Skiers are less prone to head injuries when falling so helmets aren’t as important. However, it should be voluntary.
How about requiring a muzzle, too?
So much for skiing in Michigan...and I’ve done it many times.
It will be their corporate lawyers who recommend the resorts mandate the wearing of helmets. I'm surprised it hasn't already happened.......
The second biggest is what the hell does Coleman Young (The politician formerly known as JOEL LOVING) know about skiing?
The illegitimate son of Mayor Coleman Young, JOEL LOVING, decided to become a Jr. a few years ago when he got into politics. He figured by changing his name he would then have "name recognition" which would help his political career amongst the idiot massses of Detroit. Looks like it worked.....
Miniscule risk shows it's just another power grab.
I disagree with laws making it mandatory for skiing, as I would for biking. But personally, this is the first yeat I myself am actually considering buying a helmet. So many snowboarders on the mountains and many times they move to their blind backside without even looking. Just too many close calls......
Last year when I wa skiing, they guy behind me fell and his snowboard went flying in front of him, exactly where I was. It hit my skiing pole so hard I thought it cracked it, and proceeded to keep on sailing into the woods. If that had been my head.....
I think I am off to the store......
But how many head injuries? I bet the number was many-fold over that 26.
It is not that wearing a helmet is either right or wrong, but a matter of choice & NOT being told to do so by some nannystate legal-winnie!
I make my kids wear a helmet when we go outside and do things like ride our 3 wheelers or ride a bike ect..., but I do not want any legal-winnie telling me to do so!
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Sounds like a good idea, since they're already wearing earplugs and blinders. The noise of the overtaxed masses here is preventing them from doing important work, such as figuring out which fees to raise and when to hike the state gas tax.
From the article:
“A report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that head injuries account for 14 percent of skiing and snowboarding accidents, as well as 56 percent of related deaths.”
So......44% of deaths are not related to head injuries, therefore, in Nanny-eze, Skiing should be banned entirely.
Apparently there is no safe level of skiing and even a well ventilated helmet will not protect against skiing injuries.
"I don't want to see someone with a $100 fine who's an experienced skier," Constan said, "but the time has come to encourage people to wear helmets when skiing."
Boy, that's a great example of public policy. Announcing selective enforcement right from the get go. How did this guy ever get elected?
Great. I respond to that the same way I respond to people who praise seat belts and motorcycle helmets: neither is a bad idea, and in fact, may have much to recommend them. But I’m a big boy, and I can decide for myself if I want to do things that are good for me or not. I don’t need the government following me around forcing me to “for my own good.”
Then their lawyers will be recommending their death warrant.
I never wore a helmet in 35 years of skiing until about 3 years ago. I thought it would be a nuisance, but got used to it after one or two runs. I thinks it’s just common sense today with the modern helmets, but not something to be legislated.
I spent the week before this skiing at Mont-Tremblant, and I’d say about 90% of the people on the slopes are already wearing helmets. I wasn’t one of them, but I’ve been thinking it might be a good idea.
The issue isn’t whether it’s a good idea or not. It’s whether or not the government has the authority to force people to do things for their own good.
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