Canada's first alpine helmet standard helps make skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing safer

    TORONTO, March 24 /CNW/ - Each year, hundreds of preventable head
injuries are reported on Canadian ski, snowboard and toboggan hills.(1)
Canadian Standards Association (CSA), a leading developer of standards and
codes, announces the country's first recreational alpine skiing and
snowboarding helmet standard to help protect winter sports enthusiasts on
Canadian slopes.
    According to the Canadian Ski Council, 2007-2008 Canadian Skier and
Snowboarder Facts and Stats report, there are now some 4.2-million Canadians
participating in downhill skiing and snowboarding. Since 2004, the total
number of skiers has increased by 25 per cent, snowboarders by 23 per cent.
    As the popularity of these sports has grown, so too have the number of
traumatic injuries and even fatalities, with traumatic brain injury cited as
the main cause of death among skiers and snowboarders.(2) Research has shown
that helmets used for skiing and snowboarding are associated with a 60 per
cent reduction in head injuries.(3)
    "Canada's first recreational alpine skiing and snowboarding helmet
standard was developed by leading industry and medical experts, Health Canada,
and other stakeholders to help improve head protection for participants in
these popular winter activities," says John Walter, Vice President, Standards
Development, CSA. "The sobering statistics and increased number of head
injuries indicated a need to develop the standard specifically designed for
the Canadian market. CSA is all about life and we want to facilitate family
and individuals' safety while they enjoy these sports."
    CSA's Z263.1 Recreational Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding Helmets applies
to helmets intended to help reduce head injuries for recreational alpine
skiers and snowboarders. It defines the areas of the head that are to be
protected for impact injuries and covers the basic performance requirements
for shock absorption, helmet stability, and retention system strength as well
as marking and labelling requirements. Helmets that comply with the standard
will be designed to sustain multiple impacts. The standard also applies to
helmets worn for other non-motorized recreational snow sport activities such
as tobogganing or sledding.
    Many alpine ski and snowboard helmets currently on the Canadian market
are "self-certified" by manufacturers to American and European standards. In
Canada, there are no requirements for helmets to meet any standard and some
helmets may offer little protection at all. In order to meet the CSA standard
and earn a certification mark, alpine ski and snowboard helmets will have to
be certified and tested by a laboratory accredited by the Standards Council of
Canada (SCC).
    Although the CSA Z263.1 Recreational Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding
Helmets standard was in place in 2008, until now there has not been a Canadian
certification program accredited by the SCC. CSA International has made a
formal application to the SCC, and anticipates the office in Montreal will
soon offer Canada's first SCC accredited certification program to the new
standard. The Montreal facility will be accepting submissions from helmet
manufacturers beginning in April 2009.
    The standard in particular would not have been possible without the
tireless efforts of Richard Kinar of West Vancouver. After witnessing a
serious collision between two young skiers that resulted in serious head
injuries, Kinar began a grassroots campaign to raise funds for the development
of a Canadian standard for alpine ski and snowboard helmets. Richard Kinar's
devotion to ski and snowboard safety ultimately led to the Government of
British Columbia providing initial funding to make the standard possible.
    CSA is a not-for-profit, non-government organization and compliance with
all CSA standards is voluntary unless legislated by government or mandated by
industry or trade associations. It will be up to manufacturers to submit their
product for certification by certification and testing organizations
recognized by the Standards Council of Canada.
    Helmets alone cannot prevent all injuries. Skiers, boarders and sledders
should always be aware of their surroundings and practice sports in a manner
compliant with their level of experience.(1) Injuries associated with downhill skiing, snowboarding and
        sledding: Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program
        (CHIRPP) database, 1990-91 to 2006-07.
    (2) Ackery A, Hagel BE, Provvidenza C, Tator CH. An international review
        of head and spinal cord injuries in alpine skiing and snowboarding.
        Inj Prev 2007;13:368-375
    (3) Helmet Use and Risk of Head Injuries in Alpine Skiers and
        Snowboarders. Steinar Sulheim, MD; Ingar Holme, PhD; Arne Ekeland,
        MD, PhD; Roald Bahr, MD, PhD. JAMA. 2006;295:919-924.About CSA

    Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is a membership association serving
industry, government, consumers and other interested parties in Canada and the
global marketplace. As a leading solutions-based standards organization
providing standards and codes development, application products, training and
advisory services, CSA aims to enhance public safety, improve quality of life,
preserve the environment and facilitate trade. The Canadian Standards
Association is a division of CSA Group, which also consists of CSA
International, which provides testing and certification services for
electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas and a variety of other products; and
OnSpeX, a provider of consumer product evaluation, inspection and advisory
services for retailers and manufacturers. For more information visit
www.csa.ca

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For further information: Anthony Toderian, Senior Media Relations
Officer, CSA Group, T: [phone], E: [e-mail]