Have you made a Christmas list for yourself this year? My nephew has. It’s complete with a legend that tells me that the stuff with an asterisk next to it is the stuff he wants most. There are a few stars among the 12 or so items. I imagine some of you reading this have read or have written your own Christmas lists this year. Well, this year Preventable wants to ask people to think seriously about adding a ski or snowboard helmet to those lists.
Similar to our campaign last year, we’re hitting a few BC slopes just after Christmas and spreading the word about the importance of wearing a helmet when on the hill. During the end of the December, we’ll be sending out the Preventable Snow Team to a handful of BC hills wearing branded snow wear that reads “Have a word with yourself” emblazoned on it. They’ll be on the slopes skiing, snowboarding, and leaving branded snowboards with the words “Before you think you won’t need a helmet today, have a word with yourself” on them, outside lodges and other areas. Here’s where you can see them:
- Mount Seymour – December 26-27, 2011
- Big White – December 28, 2011
- Silver Star – December 29, 2011
*****Look out for our Snow Team who will be handing out coupons for discounts on helmets on these dates and at these hills!*****
We don’t just do this because it’s fun. We’re spreading the word about head injuries and ski hills because we know that traumatic head and neck injuries are is the leading cause of death among skiers and snowboarders (Smartrisk, 2009) and that helmets have been linked to a 35% reduction in head injures for skiers and snowboarders (Russell et al., 2010).
We also know that getting more people to wear helmets isn’t just about statistics–it’s about changing attitudes. Like you, we all want to get out on the hill and enjoy ourselves this holiday season. We just want you to do it wisely and in a way that prevents you from injury.
So if you didn’t find that helmet under the Christmas tree this year, do yourself a favour and pick one up this Boxing Day or Week. Before you think you don’t need a helmet today, have a word with yourself!
