Office of Medical Communications

Kalev Freeman, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of emergency medicine

(DECEMBER 19, 2024) Kalev Freeman, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of emergency medicine and pharmacology, commented to WCAX-TV for a story on slope safety tips to avoid head injuries.

Any careful skier or rider straps on their helmet before hitting the mountain, but experts say it takes more than that to stay safe.

Without—and sometimes despite—a helmet, many skiers and riders end up in the ER at the UVM Medical Center, where Freeman and his co-workers assess and study the damage. There are about 20,000 winter sport–related traumatic brain injuries in the U.S. every year. Freeman says many mountainside traumatic brain injuries involve men emboldened on sunny days to do flips and go fast on moderate trails. He says it’s a recipe for disaster, helmet or not.

“Those types of high-speed, high mechanism of injury, fatalities are not gonna necessarily be prevented with the helmets,” said Freeman.

Helmets do lead to better TBI outcomes, especially for kids whose brains are still developing. However, Freeman says they’re not a fix-all, and it’s just as important to know your limits, ski or ride with control, and recognize the risks.

“My advice is to wear a helmet but don’t expect a miracle,” he said.

Data from the National Ski Areas Association shows that 90% of skiers and riders wore helmets in the 2021-2022 season. They say young adults, especially men, need more encouragement to wear them.