title: A human factors approach to snowsport safety: Novel research on pediatric participants' behaviors and head injury risk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study applied a human factors approach to snowsport resort systems to contribute to the understanding of the incidence and severity of pediatric snowsport head accelerations.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Previous research indicates low magnitude head accelerations are common among snowsport participants. This study adds to the knowledge of snowsport safety by measuring aspects of participants' snowsport behavior and linking this with head acceleration data.
  
  
  METHODS
  School-aged students (n = 107) wore telemetry-fitted helmets and Global Positioning System (GPS) devices during snowsport activity. Data was collected over 159 sessions (total hours 701). Head accelerations recorded by the telemetry units were compared with GPS-generated data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study found speeds attained normally exceed the testing rating for which helmets are designed; lower rates of head accelerations compared to earlier studies and that when head accelerations did occur they were generally below the threshold for concussions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediatric snowsport head accelerations are rare and are generally of low magnitude. Those most at risk of a head acceleration >40 g were male snowboarders. Given the recorded speeds in first time participants, increased targeting of novice snowsport participants to encourage education about the use of protective equipment, including helmets, is warranted. Post event recall was not a good indicator of having experienced a head impact. Consideration should be given to raising the standard design speed testing for snowsport helmet protective devices to reflect actual snowsport behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, University Avenue, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Electronic address: Tracey.Dickson@canberra.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tracey J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Dickson
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, University Avenue, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Electronic address: Stephen.Trathen@canberra.edu.au.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trathen
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, University Avenue, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Electronic address: Gordon.Waddington@canberra.edu.au.
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Waddington
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts and Tourism, Thompson Rivers University, McGill Road, Kamloops, British Columbia, V2C 5N3, Canada. Electronic address: aterwiel@tru.ca.
authors.forename: F Anne
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Terwiel
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baltis
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration / Q000009:adverse effects; D000293:Adolescent; D001519:Behavior; D002648:Child; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000592:standards; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012449:Safety; D012865:Skiing / Q000293:injuries*; D013686:Telemetry
keywords: Head injury; Helmet design; Methods; Participant behavior; Snowsports