Helmets at the Olympic Winter Games: Your Golden Opportunity

“Mommy, I thought Shaun White was good. Why is he wearing a helmet?”

In the 2010 Winter Olympics, sports like ski jumping, snowboarding, speed skating, luge, and bobsled are among the ones requiring athletes to wear helmets!

We’re glad to see that helmets are becoming the norm in snowsports. Unfortunate accidents like Natasha Richardson's death last year after a head injury while skiing without a helmet, have helped raise awareness of helmet use.

If you have trouble getting your kids to wear helmets and other safety equipment, this is the perfect opportunity to bring up the discussion. Point to the Olympic athletes as examples and show that wearing safety equipment doesn’t mean you don’t have enough skills in the sport. 

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, for sports like skiing and snowboarding, a ski helmet is recommended. For snowmobiling, a snowmobile helmet is what you need. Even though there isn’t a special helmet for ice skating and sledding, wearing a bike, skateboard or ski helmet is better than not wearing one at all.

Check out these crazy helmets at the Olympics!