Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons warn that the helmet can save lives in ski
the head injury, the leading cause of death in the tracks.
-60% of injuries to the head area are avoidable protecting the head
-descents of slopes are particularly dangerous for children, which must always be protected
Madrid, January 2012.- integral helmet (which protects the entire face) can save lives in the ski slopes, as the most serious injuries occur in the facial bones, according to the Spanish society of surgery Oral and maxillofacial (SECOM) warns. A study published this month by the University of Innsbruck (Austria) shows that the leading cause of death in the ski slopes is the head injury.
Almost half of the deaths were produced by trauma in the head (46%), according to Austrian research published in the Wilderness and Environmental Medicine from 207 fatalities data in 5 years. The main causes of accidents with fatal outcome were the fall (41%), the clash against a solid object like a rock or facilities sports (35%) and the collision against another skier (18%). Most of the injured were men (85%).
Estimated doctor Joan Birbe, President of the Catalan-Balearic society of Oral and maxillofacial surgery, the widespread use of the integral helmet or a conventional helmet with splint protective as leading players of American football could prevent up to 60% of these injuries ”.
There is more awareness of the importance of using helmet to protect the head ”, continues this specialist. However, a conventional helmet does not protect from lesions in the mouth and jaw, which mostly are serious and can leave sequelae ”, adds. In his view, although one might think that the protectors of this type are only for professional skiing, reaching speeds of over 100 kilometres per hour, anyone can suffer severe trauma ”, stresses.
The increase in the number of skiers and snowboard practitioners has raised the rate of accidents. Snowboard usually attracts athletes typically bolder and youngest ”, explains Dr. Arturo Bilbao, President of the SECOM. The added problem of this sports es that have less capacity to slow down to avoid collision with other skiers ”.
Protection in children
Child protection must be extreme, warns doctor Bilbao. Another study published this month in the German journal of sports medicine Sportverletz Sportschaden ensures that lack of training and excessive risks in the drops are the most important causes of accidents among skiers schoolchildren. The research, carried out between 735 students injured in ski slopes of Germany, concludes that best way to combat school ski injuries is through warming and protection with the integral case.
In the same vein, Tourist Association of stations of ski and mountain (ATUDEM) alert on the obligation to wear the helmet in children and the benefits that also adults carry this protection. speed reached poses a risk to the skier who can suffer irreversible injury ”underlines the Director of ATUDEM, Paloma GarcÃa Pasha.
The SECOM is a scientific society dedicated to the defense of the specialty and the promotion of science and outreach initiatives related to oral and maxillofacial interventions linked to deformities dentofacial, dentoalveolar, orthopedic surgery, pathology of head and neck Oncology, temporomandibular joint surgeryinfections and salivary gland pathology.
