Time magazine poll - Should skiers be required to wear a helmet for safety?

[DavidB 0]

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If a well known person who was skydiving had a hard landing, hit their head, and died later, do you think there would be a similar reaction?

nope. They'd ask to ban skydiving alltogether

Happened in the Philly area back in the early 80's when a well known local TV weather man was killed jumping.

Edited to add: Google Jim OBrian for the story.

When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

[Orchid 0]

It would not be a bad idea!

"Love is doing small things with great love."

Lacrosse: Legally beating men with sticks since 1492

[riggerrob 643]

That famous guy was Tom Pirus (sp?) world Champion relative worker and founder of Skydive University.
Tommy received a complimentary Cypres just before he went to a boogie in Panama.
They chose to ignore a loose-fitting pilot chute pouch.
The last video footage of Tom Pirus has him joking about a shiny new electronic gadget that he could not remember how to turn on.
While they were in freefall, the other jumper's pilot chute deployed prematurely and the ensuing collision knocked Tom unconscious. He woke up just in time to deploy just before impact, too late to slow down.
Cypres sales boomed over the next year. Dealers could not keep Cypres on the shelves in 1994!

[jman 0]

In general, I would vote for recommended, except in the case of instruction. I think students should be required to wear helmets, whether you're skiing, doing AFF, learning to ride a motorcycle or whatever. Once you've been exposed & informed of the basic hazards, you can make your own choice. I once saw a sky surfer go out of an otter by doing a little side hop out of the door in basically an upright crouching position. He chose to bend his head over & look down facing into the aircraft. His hair pretty much brushed the bottom of the door. A few of us looked at each other with that "wow, that was close look". If he hit his head, I don't see how it would have not knocked him unconscious.