Attention skiers: It begins.

[Just_A_Guy]

Before Natasha Richardson's body is even in the grave, CNN begins the drumbeat for ski helmets.

I'm pretty sure that the genesis of the motorcycle- and bicycle-helmet-law movements were similar. It'll be interesting to watch this develop over the next few years.

[john doe]

I'm not a skier, but I don't hear of this sort of thing happening very often. It's a big story here in ski country when a skier dies at a local resort. Are there statistics on the death rates of unhelmeted skiers as opposed to helmeted skiers?

[pam]

I've heard that not only on CNN but it was on KUTV last night as well when reporting her death.

[Jamie123]

I feel so terrible for Liam Neeson, and all Natasha's family. It must have been a terrible shock for them all to have her torn away so unexpectedly. I'm sure the prayers of all of us are with them.

[Jbs2763]

its not a story when a skier dies unless she's famous... where was the uproar about clear cutting all the trees when Sonny Bono killed himself on the slopes?

[Canuck Mormon]

This story lead the news last night, before everything else. It was only news because it was someone famous. It is a tragic story, but it should not have been the lead story. I remember never wearing a helmet when I went skiing, but that was 20 years ago. Even as a little kid. Even if you are wearing a helmet, it does not guarantee that you will survive.

[gabelpa]

As a motorcyclist in California, I appreciated my helmet. As a skier in Colorado, I don't see the point. When you're travelling at 70MPH and the oncoming semi kicks up a rock that bounces off your plexiglass visor, putting a pit in it, you'll gain the same appreciation.

The only time I could have done with a helmet was when I got on the wrong ski lift and wound up on a Black slope, rescued by the ski patrol after a bad fall. Some of my snowboarder friends wore helmets on the slopes,even before the Bono thing.

[john doe]

According to the story I read, the use of helmets is up, but the use of helmets has no impact on the death rates of skiers. Also, they say that a helmet probably would not have made any difference in this situation.

[Moksha]

"They will have to pry my cold dead head into a helmut"

- National Skiers Resistance Movement slogan

[funkymonkey]

If you've ever personally seen someone get injured because they weren't wearing a ski helmet...you'd be 100% for ski helmets. There is a reason why people wear helmets on the slopes.

Protect your noggin, wear a helmet. You don't know what kind of idiot is going to crash into you like a linebacker.

(I used to be on ski patrol...THERE IS A REASON FOR THEM)

Edited March 20, 2009 by funkymonkey

[Heavenguard]

Helmets will help for some, but not all injuries. That is true of any and all helmets. Someone I know got a concussion through a helmet, I'm sure it would have been worse without one. Alls I know is I wore a helmet when I went snowboarding this season (first time, learning), and my friend who's a seasoned vet who does jumps and tricks also wears a helmet.

[Just_A_Guy]

If you've ever personally seen someone get injured because they weren't wearing a ski helmet...you'd be 100% for ski helmets.

Yes . . . but not 100% for a nanny state.

[gabelpa]

You need the tinfoil lined ski helmets for that one just_a_guy

[Just_A_Guy]

Gabelpa, you seem to think the idea of government-mandated ski helmets implausible. Why?

[gabelpa]

An essential part of a nanny state is the ability to read our thoughts. There are already a couple satellites able to do this for small areas, as well as vehicles with the requisite equipment. The only way to prevent this mind reading is with tin-foil around the cranium. If we were to include this tinfoil within the helmet, we could be safe while skiing, and have our privacy.

[Just_A_Guy]

But seriously--why?

You think it won't happen?

Or you think it will happen, but we shouldn't care?

[gabelpa]

Everyone complains about the nanny state, legislating good and safe behaviour. I've got bad news. We're already living in a nanny state. As soon as something for our safety gets legislated (seat belts, motorcycle helmets, reflective jackets, fall arrestors, safety on construction sites) that is the "Nanny" becoming stricter.

Well, guess what, since the nanny state in the UK started legislating Health and Safety on construction sites, deaths and serious injury due to work place injury plummeted. Yes, the workers complained about nanny state, but more are alive and working now than there would have been if the legislation had not been passed. Although, it is still optional, but the employer gets in trouble if they don't provide the equipment, even if the employees decide not to use it.

[Just_A_Guy]

Gabelpa, I'll take it your answer to my question is b).

[gabelpa]

My answer is C. We're already living in one, and have been since the first warning label was put on a product.