New measures should be taken to increase helmet use for skiing and snowboarding

Most know the benefits of a helmet and its effectiveness at preventing head injuries, but experts explain additional methods are required to increase safety for skiing and snowboarding injuries.

Currently, helmets are not readily available for skiers and snowboarders, but many suggest increasing the ability to rent them may be a great first step in reducing the number of head injuries encountered.

The increased interest of downhill skiing and snowboarding safety resulted from deaths of well-known individuals in both North America and Europe.

Natasha Richardson, an actress, was not wearing a helmet as she was skiing in March 2009. She suffered a head injury and died from the injury.

A study showed that head injuries could be decreased by 35 percent when using a helmet.

Children under 13 years old could notice injury decreases as high as 60 percent the study showed.

A common misconception is that helmet use often leads to riskier behavior by creating a false sense of security. However, a study found that the more skilled the skier, the higher the chances of helmet use, suggesting a trend between skill level and helmet use.