Direct Line announces ski helmet study results
UK-based insurer Direct Line has released the results of research carried out into the benefits of wearing a helmet when skiing. As part of the study, a crash test dummy wearing ski gear was made to collide with a tree trunk to analyse the extent to which wearing a helmet reduces the risk of suffering a serious head injury, and how it reduces the severity of head injuries in higher-speed crashes.
UK-based insurer Direct Line has released the results of research carried out into the benefits of wearing a helmet when skiing. As part of the study, a crash test dummy wearing ski gear was made to collide with a tree trunk to analyse the extent to which wearing a helmet reduces the risk of suffering a serious head injury, and how it reduces the severity of head injuries in higher-speed crashes.
Tom Bishop, head of travel insurance for Direct Line, explained: “[We] decided to undertake this research because there is a debate in the UK travel insurance industry at the moment as to whether or not the use of ski helmets should be made compulsory and, as far as we’re aware, this is a UK first in terms of the scientific use of crash test dummies to carry out these tests.”
The study by Direct Line and the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) simulated six collisions with a crash test dummy hitting a tree at 10, 20 and 30 kilometres per hour (kph), both with and without a ski helmet. Three key areas of the body were monitored for the force of the impacts and likely injuries – namely the head, neck and chest.
The results revealed that skiers wearing helmets experience at least two-thirds less g-force than skiers without helmets, representing a greatly reduced risk of suffering a serious head injury, such as a brain contusion, said the insurer. The compression force on a skier’s neck during a collision was also reduced when wearing a helmet, although not enough to significantly decrease the risk of serious neck injuries, such as fractured vertebrae, at 20 or 30 kph. The risk of a serious chest injury, such as multiple rib fractures or a lung laceration, was low in the tests at 10 and 20 kph, but at 30 kph was moderate, said Direct Line. The company stated that a test at 30 kph without a helmet was not conducted, as the pattern of results from the previous tests indicated that the risk of damaging the dummy was too great, and suggested that this crash would be fatal for a human.
Mark Riddell, group testing manager at TRL said: “Head injuries can be life-threatening when they occur. When you consider that during the collision at 20 kph, the head experienced a force of nearly two tonnes, this is an incredible amount of strain to be put under. This research certainly supports the argument to wear an approved ski helmet on the slopes from a safety perspective.”
Tom Bishop added: “Although we do not enforce the use of helmets when taking part in winter sports, the safety of our customers on the slopes is paramount to us. This is why we strongly encourage the use of approved helmets when skiing or snowboarding, especially in light of this illuminating research. We deal with around 3,000 winter sports claims per year, the majority of which will be medical, and unfortunately three or four of these per year will be fatalities. Even one fatality is one too many.” He continued: “Winter sports injuries can be very costly, and even when treated in a hospital which accepts the [European Health Insurance Card], a skier could face thousands of pounds in charges for mountain rescue, ambulances, new flights and additional accommodation. For example, a helicopter piste rescue to a local hospital will typically cost around £2,000, and if you need to be brought home from an Alpine resort by stretcher on a commercial flight, or on an air ambulance, this can cost at least £10,000. This is why taking out appropriate travel insurance is so crucial.”
Further explaining the potentially devastating effects of head injuries received in skiing accidents, Dr Rob Goodall, medical director for Capita Health & Wellbeing, stated: “When the skull strikes an object and is decelerated very rapidly, the brain will move within the skull and will push up against it causing bruising and damage to the brain itself. There are lesser injuries that can cause symptoms to develop later, particularly if the damage causes slow bleeding in the brain, and that can manifest as altered consciousness (becoming increasingly drowsy), perhaps an unpleasant headache, sickness is often a common sign, and if these things occur after a head injury then they need to be taken very seriously and urgent medical attention sought.”
Tom Bishop warned travellers: “What this test has shown us is that absolutely it’s in your own interests to ski as safely as possible, particularly if you’re with a young family. We would certainly recommend the use of ski helmets at all times.”
Footage of the dummy hitting the tree can be viewed below.