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With no certified winter recreational helmets in the market, parents use what is available or no protection at all, according to a study by Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. (Photos.com)
Hockey helmets are likely the best protection for younger children when tobogganing, according to a study by the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).
CHEO researchers note that during the wintertime, a higher number of young children are admitted to hospital because of head injuries resulting from winter activities including tobogganing.
There is currently no certified winter recreational helmet available, they note, so parents use what is available to them, or no protection at all.
In the study, the researchers considered the use of three different types of helmets: hockey, alpine ski, and bicycle helmets. They subjected the helmets to front and side impacts at varying speeds, simulating impacts that a child might experience while tobogganing.
“We defined helmet safety performance by the ability of a helmet to reduce acceleration of the head during the impact,” co-author Dr. Blaine Hoshizaki, director of the Neurotrauma Impact Laboratory at the University of Ottawa, said in a statement.
The different helmets had varying comparative performance depending on the impact speed. At low-velocity impact, hockey helmets were found to offer the most protection, while at high-velocity impact, bicycle helmets were found to be the most effective. Alpine skiing helmets provided the least protection at all the speeds.
The authors said that while the study confirms that all the helmets considered provide a level of protection, it also sheds light on the limitations of the helmets.
Noting that the study doesn’t take a stand about the “best” helmet, co-author Dr. Michael Vassilyadi, associate professor in the department of surgery, division of neurosurgery at CHEO, said hockey helmets are likely the best for younger children for tobogganing.
“I think this is a great outcome because hockey helmets offer multi-impact protection by design; they can be worn with a toque; and a facial shield or cage can be easily added,” Dr. Vassilyadi said.“The bottom line is that all helmets are protective—and young children should be wearing helmets during winter activities.”
The research was funded by ThinkFirst Canada, a non-profit organization focused on the prevention of brain and spinal cord injuries. The results of the study were published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics last Friday.
