Legislature promoting safety for skiers and snowboarders

This week the State Legislature approved two bills to improve safety at ski resorts. Assembly Bill 1652, authored by Assemblymember Dave Jones (D-Sacramento), requires California ski resorts to make public reports about all fatal injuries occurring at the resort. It also requires resorts to create and make public annual safety plans, and implement better signage warning of boundaries and other dangers. AB 1652 was approved by the Assembly by a vote of 51-22. Senate Bill 880, authored by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), would require all children under age 18 to wear helmets while skiing and snowboarding. SB 880 was approved by the Senate by a vote of 22-11.

California has 32 largely unregulated ski resorts. There are no requirements concerning posting of signs related to ski slope conditions, boundary warnings, or known hazards. Data regarding injuries or fatalities occurring at ski resorts is only aggregated nationally by the ski industry associations; therefore, consumers are unable to get information about the overall death and injury statistics or the relative safety performance of individual ski resorts. AB 1652 will provide greater awareness to consumers about the frequency and circumstances surrounding fatalities that occur at California ski resorts.

Numerous recent studies have found that traumatic brain injuries are the leading cause of injury-related

death among skiers and snowboarders, and children in particular are at higher risk. A 2008 study conducted by University of Washington professor Peter Cummings concluded that the use of helmets could reduce the risk of serious injury in up to 60 percent of all accidents. Additionally, skiers and snowboarders who crashed or fell had a 15 percent reduction in the risk of any head injury if they were wearing a helmet. The Federal Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has found that more than 7,000 head injuries per year on the slopes in the U.S. could be prevented or reduced in severity by the use of a helmet. The CPSC study also showed that "for children under 15 years of age, 53 percent of head injuries (approximately 2,600 of the 4,950 head injuries annually) are addressable by use of a helmet.

"While tragic accidents at California's ski resorts are not common, we can do more to protect the safety of ski resort enthusiasts and families," said Jones. "Requiring helmet use for kids, having a clear safety plan, posting consistent signs warning of possible dangers and changing conditions are the tools we need to put in place to ensure the safety of those enjoying California's mountains."

"California's ski slopes are perhaps the last area of recreation where we do not have basic safety standards in place for children," said Yee, who is a child psychologist. "Despite repeated warnings from public health experts, professional athletes, and ski resorts, each winter brings news of hundreds of unnecessary tragedies for the failure to wear a helmet. With this legislative package, we can significantly reduce instances of traumatic brain injury or death for such a vulnerable population."

AB 1652 and SB 880 have the full support of the California Ski and Snowboard Safety Organization (sponsor), California Psychological Association (sponsor), California Ski Industry Association, American College of Emergency Physicians, California Brain Injury Association, California's Children's Hospital Association, California Chiropractic Association, California Medical Association, California Nurses Association, California Psychiatric Association, California Travel Industry Association, Children's Advocacy Institute, and the National Academy of Neuropsychology, among others.

The Governor must sign or veto both bills by September 30.