The prevalence and predictors of helmet use by skiers and snowboarders at ski areas in western North America in 2001.
BACKGROUND
Helmets may protect the heads of skiers and snowboarders. The prevalence of helmet use by these groups was estimated.


METHODS
Helmet use was observed in face-to-face surveys (N = 2,978) on sun protection at 28 ski areas in Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and British Columbia (0.7% refusal rate) from January to April 2001.


RESULTS
Helmets were worn by 12.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.0-13.3) of the sample. Use was highest among guests who skied or snowboarded more frequently (fourth quartile vs. first quartile, odds ratio [OR] = 11.998 [95% CI, 6.774-21.251]; third vs. first, OR = 5.556 [95% CI, 3.119-9.896]; second vs. first, OR = 2.186 [95% CI, 1.162-4.112]), were experts (OR = 3.326 [95% CI, 1.297-8.528]), used snowboards (OR = 2.301 [95% CI, 1.731-3.058]), and were more educated (college graduate, OR = 2.167 [95% CI, 1.271-3.695]; some college, OR = 1.969 [95% CI, 1.130-3.431]).


CONCLUSIONS
Helmet use was generally low but may be high enough by experts, snowboarders, and in the central Rocky Mountains to produce a norm stimulating further adoption.
Buller
David B
DB
The Cooper Institute, 14023 Denver West Parkway, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80401, USA. dbuller@denver.cooperinst.org
Andersen
Peter A
PA
Walkosz
Barbara J
BJ
Scott
Michael D
MD
Cutter
Gary R
GR
Dignan
Mark B
MB
Voeks
Jenifer H
JH
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009656:North America; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012865:Skiing