Do you wear one?

[cricket]

Helmets: Do you wear one?

This evening, my husband and son returned home from a session of ice skating. My son is now a level 6 ice skater and is improving nicely. Although he has been taking figure skating lessons, he has been wearing hockey skates, knee-pads and a helmet.

Tonight, he was informed that he needed to buy some professional figure skates to continue his lessons, and to "Lose the helmet."

As a mother who loves her son dearly, I was a bit taken aback at this command. I wish him to protect himself from injury and have always felt that even though it was not required, it was more wise to wear a helmet than not.

So, in my research (and those who know me know I love to research) I found this article:

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Helmets for Ice Skaters?

July 19, 2004

HELMETS: skateboarders, rollerskaters, in-line skaters, skiers and snowboarders wear them. Should ice skaters be added to the list? Researchers, led by Jennifer McGeehan in the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, think so.

Proportion of Injuries

to the Head

McGeehan and her colleagues compared the injuries that occurred to 419 children (1 to 18 years old) who were ice-skating, rollerskating, in-line skating or skateboarding. Most ice-skating injuries were to the face (23 of 60 cases; 38.3%) and head (12 of 60 injuries; 20%). Children less than 6 years old experienced a higher proportion (8 of 9 cases; 88.9%) of head or face injuries while ice-skating than older children (27 of 51 cases; 52.9%).

Most skateboarding injuries occurred to the arms and hands (14 of 44 cases; 32.8%) and legs (11 of 44 cases; 25.1%). Head injuries accounted for 7 of 44 (15.9%) of the skateboarding injuries. The age pattern of skateboarders' head and face injuries was similar to that of ice-skaters' head injuries: children younger than 6 years old had more frequent head injuries (5 of 8 cases; 62.5%) than older children (12 of 36 cases; 33.3% ).

Rollerskating and in-line skating injuries most frequently involved the legs and arms. Only 13 of 131 (9.9%) rollerskating injuries and 9 of 184 (4.9%) in-line skating injuries involved the head.

These data show that ice-skaters sustain more frequent injuries to the head than skateboarders, in-line skaters and rollerskaters. The researchers suggest that ice-skaters (and skateboarders) may fall differently than rollerskaters and in-line skaters. Rollerskaters and in-line skaters appear to fall forward and try to protect themselves by falling on their arms. Ice-skaters and skateboarders may fall sideways or backwards and therefore, injure their heads. Young children may be at a higher risk for head injuries because they have a higher center of gravity and fall over headfirst. Also, the researchers state that young children may not have the arm strength to stop themselves to avoid a head injury when they fall.

Because of the high proportion of head injuries among ice-skaters, the researchers conclude:

"Children should wear helmets during recreational ice-skating."

Did you know?

New York State Assembly Bill A07087 would create a law that would required children under the age of 14 years to wear helmets while ice-skating. (New York State Law already requires that children younger than 14 years must wear helmets while riding a bicycle, using in-line skates and playing ice hockey.)

Reference and further information:

McGeehan, J., Shields, B.J. and Smith, G.A. Children should wear helmets while ice-skating: a comparison of skating-related injuries. Pediatrics, 114:124-128, 2004.

Helmets for Ice Skaters?

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The reason I share this information is that I find it absolutely ridiculous that my son would be commanded to "lose the helmet."

We are the voice for our children; we should take care of ourselves.

Again, I ask, do you wear a helmet?

You should.

Do your kids wear helmets?

They should.

/soapbox endeth.

[Jeannieb43]

It's been years since I skated. But what if your son starts wearing figure skates rather than hockey skates, to do his routines? I bet the coaches won't complain about the helmet then. There wouldn't be such danger of falls if using figure skates. Just a thought.

They didn't even have helmets when I ice skated. But my granddaughters wear helmets [plus wrist and knee protection] when they roller skate for skate night at the academy. I think it makes good sense.

[Gail]

When I go ice-skating, I need a helmet on the other end...

<img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[Bravus]

I wear a helmet always, including for bicycling: it's not much of a brain, but I've grown kind of attached to it! <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I think it's a cultural thing with figure skating, but there's always room for culture change. To me it'd look weird to compete wearing a helmet (still just cultural I guess), but he should certainly be wearing one to practice. If the coach gives you (or him) any flak, show him the research!

[Toni]

I don't really participate in anything that requires a helmet, but my kids do wear helmets while bike-riding, roller-skating, etc. I am so surprised by how many kids at the roller-rink with no helmets! My kids are often the only ones with them.

Toni

[cricket]

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If the coach gives you (or him) any flak, show him the research!

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This, of course, follows my regular modus operandi!

[Amelia]

*tacking on

Kinda makes you wonder how we all survived childhood!

[cricket]

Kinda makes you wonder how we all survived childhood!

Not all of us did.

My father was hit in the head as a small child from a fall. For the last 5 years of his life, the doctors were convinced that his dementia was caused by a trauma to the head in childhood.

I know, we've heard the stories about how kids were tougher in the "good old days", but what we fail to often recognize are the children who weren't "hardy" enough to survive.

Without modern day medicine and precaution (such as the wearing of helmets and seat belts), many more of us would be dead as well. Both my husband and I would have died as infants if it were not for medical advances. Hence, my children would not have been born.

Four less Walls.

[darlene]

I must admit that I was a pretty good skater. <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> We grew up by a lake and we would get up at 3 a.m. to go skating before we went to school and then skate all day Sunday. (and play hockey) Loved it but, never wore a helmut. Then while I was in college some crazy guy came up behind me and tripped me. I'm not sure he intended to do it but, I landed on the side of my head and did I ever see stars. Had a consusion and prossibly a fracture and lost two days out of my life. So really, a helmut would be a good thing to wear while skating.

[cricket]

And a good thing to wear when going off to college!!

[darlene]

Yes, college can be pretty rough on some of us! <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Neil D]

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Four less Walls.

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Hmmmmm.....If a house is partially defined as having 4 walls, this would make one less house-hold.