Helmet use in skiing and snowboarding in Switzerland during the past 20 yearsPractical implications

Summary: Objectives: The aim of this study was to quantify helmet use in skiing and snowboarding in Switzerland. Design: Regular cross-sectional surveys of skiers and snowboarders were conducted on Swiss slopes from the 2002/2003 to the 2021/2022 seasons. Method: Surveys included information on hel...

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Main Authors: S. Niemann, F. Bürgi, O. Brügger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-01-01
Series:JSAMS Plus
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772696723000066
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author S. Niemann
F. Bürgi
O. Brügger
author_facet S. Niemann
F. Bürgi
O. Brügger
author_sort S. Niemann
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Objectives: The aim of this study was to quantify helmet use in skiing and snowboarding in Switzerland. Design: Regular cross-sectional surveys of skiers and snowboarders were conducted on Swiss slopes from the 2002/2003 to the 2021/2022 seasons. Method: Surveys included information on helmet use, sport, gender, age, skill level, and country of residence. Data from 15 single surveys were used to trace the evolution of helmet use in Switzerland. A logistic regression on data from the most recent survey was conducted to detect differences in helmet use among demographic groups. Results: In the 2002/2003 season, 14% of skiers (95% confidence interval [CI] ​= ​12%–18%) and 20% of snowboarders (CI 16%–26%) used a helmet. By the most recent season (2021/2022), wearing rates for both skiers and snowboarders had increased significantly (skiers: 95% [CI 93%–97%]; snowboarders: 92% [CI 89%–95%]). The regression results showed that skiers, females, younger people, and people in the German-speaking part of Switzerland were more likely to wear a helmet. Conclusions: The results show an impressive evolution of helmet use rates among skiers and snowboarders since the 2002/2003 season. Steep differences detected in earlier seasons have leveled out, and most people on the slopes today wear helmets. Nevertheless, the ongoing efforts for promoting helmet use should be maintained.
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spelling doaj.art-691666b7d53f4e69bdea792846adf0dd2024-01-27T07:01:21ZengElsevierJSAMS Plus2772-69672023-01-012100025Helmet use in skiing and snowboarding in Switzerland during the past 20 yearsPractical implicationsS. Niemann0F. Bürgi1O. Brügger2Corresponding author.; Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU), Hodlerstrasse 5a, Bern 3011, SwitzerlandSwiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU), Hodlerstrasse 5a, Bern 3011, SwitzerlandSwiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU), Hodlerstrasse 5a, Bern 3011, SwitzerlandSummary: Objectives: The aim of this study was to quantify helmet use in skiing and snowboarding in Switzerland. Design: Regular cross-sectional surveys of skiers and snowboarders were conducted on Swiss slopes from the 2002/2003 to the 2021/2022 seasons. Method: Surveys included information on helmet use, sport, gender, age, skill level, and country of residence. Data from 15 single surveys were used to trace the evolution of helmet use in Switzerland. A logistic regression on data from the most recent survey was conducted to detect differences in helmet use among demographic groups. Results: In the 2002/2003 season, 14% of skiers (95% confidence interval [CI] ​= ​12%–18%) and 20% of snowboarders (CI 16%–26%) used a helmet. By the most recent season (2021/2022), wearing rates for both skiers and snowboarders had increased significantly (skiers: 95% [CI 93%–97%]; snowboarders: 92% [CI 89%–95%]). The regression results showed that skiers, females, younger people, and people in the German-speaking part of Switzerland were more likely to wear a helmet. Conclusions: The results show an impressive evolution of helmet use rates among skiers and snowboarders since the 2002/2003 season. Steep differences detected in earlier seasons have leveled out, and most people on the slopes today wear helmets. Nevertheless, the ongoing efforts for promoting helmet use should be maintained.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772696723000066SkiingSnowboardingHead protective devicesRisk behaviorEpidemiological monitoring
spellingShingle S. Niemann
F. Bürgi
O. Brügger
Helmet use in skiing and snowboarding in Switzerland during the past 20 yearsPractical implications
JSAMS Plus
Skiing
Snowboarding
Head protective devices
Risk behavior
Epidemiological monitoring
title Helmet use in skiing and snowboarding in Switzerland during the past 20 yearsPractical implications
title_full Helmet use in skiing and snowboarding in Switzerland during the past 20 yearsPractical implications
title_fullStr Helmet use in skiing and snowboarding in Switzerland during the past 20 yearsPractical implications
title_full_unstemmed Helmet use in skiing and snowboarding in Switzerland during the past 20 yearsPractical implications
title_short Helmet use in skiing and snowboarding in Switzerland during the past 20 yearsPractical implications
title_sort helmet use in skiing and snowboarding in switzerland during the past 20 yearspractical implications
topic Skiing
Snowboarding
Head protective devices
Risk behavior
Epidemiological monitoring
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772696723000066
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AT fburgi helmetuseinskiingandsnowboardinginswitzerlandduringthepast20yearspracticalimplications
AT obrugger helmetuseinskiingandsnowboardinginswitzerlandduringthepast20yearspracticalimplications