Starting in the winter 2011-2012, all skiers and snowboarders under the age of 18 will be required to wear a helmet thanks to a new law passed by the state in April. New Jersey is the first state in the nation to have such a law. California is also considering a similar legislation.
A recent study by Morristown Memorial Hospital, which treats hundreds of people injured annually at Mountain Creek and Hidden Valley Club ski resort, in Vernon, New Jersey, found that 41% of skiers at Mountain Creek used helmets, which lags the national average of 57%, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. The study also revealed that although helmets don’t prevent serious injuries in high-speed crashes, they will prevent 30%-50% of injuries which occur at moderate speeds.