Living a one hour drive from some of the best skiing in the world, I don’t have to look very far to see ski enthusiasts of all ages get excited at the thought of hitting the slopes now that the ski season has begun. While skiing and snowboarding appeal to all ages, it is not a risk free activity. The Canadian Paediatric Society recently reported that head injuries account for majority of deaths, serious injuries and significant disabilities that are sustained while skiing and snowboarding. Children between the ages of 7 – 17 have the highest risk of injury.
I want to change this.
A recent Statistics Canada report shows that only 68% of Canadians age 12+ wear helmets when skiing and/or snowboarding.
As a survivor of a traumatic brain injury, I know just how devastating it can be to have life as you know taken away, followed by the many challenges and frustrations as you go through rehabilitation where there are never any guarantees in how far you will progress in your struggle to relearn the basics such as reading, writing, walking, speaking, etc. While wearing a helmet may not have prevented my injury, I am certain it would have reduced the severity of it and all the medical professionals who oversaw my treatment in the intensive care unit and in the brain injury rehabilitation ward would agree.
Did you know that over 50% of traumatic brain injuries are preventable?
My injury has made me passionate about promoting safety so others can avoid going through what I went through and I have had the good fortune of being featured on television and radio over the past several years to highlight the importance of safety and share tips.
While I believe health and safety should be an important aspect in everyone’s life, I have a special interest in advocating for the safety of children. That is why I wrote Emma’s Skiing Adventure, a children’s book that incorporates safety, mixed with a bit of humor, into a not so typical ski outing. This is a book that opens the communication channel between adults and young children on the importance of being safe when skiing and/or snowboarding by wearing a helmet.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that traumatic brain injury (TBI) will surpass many diseases as the major cause of death and disability by the year 2020. TBI not only affects patients, but also is a significant burden on caregivers and family members, as well as society as a whole.
Testimonials on the book as well as information on how you can buy one can be found here.
Wouldn’t it be nice if no one sustained a brain injury and there were no brain injury related deaths in the 2016/2017 ski season?
0
0
0
0
Leave a Comment