Skier Safety How to be Safe as a Skier

HOW TO SELECT A CHILD’S SKI HELMET

SKIING SAFETY TIPS: HOW TO SELECT A CHILD’S SKI HELMET

As your child learns how to ski their focus is on mastering the mechanics of the sport, while your attention is most likely aimed at keeping them safe. Although, there are multiple factors to skiing safely, wearing a helmet is one of the most crucial steps. Unfortunately, many parents are unaware of how to select a ski helmet for their kid. To remedy this problem, we’ve listed the most important aspects of buying your son or daughter a skiing helmet.

MEASUREMENTS

  • Guessing your child’s head size based solely on their age is never a good idea. While one eight year-old may fit in a small adult helmet, another eight year-old may need a medium child sized one. To avoid purchasing a ski helmet that is either too small or too big, measure the circumference of your child’s head in centimeters. To do so, simply wrap the measuring tape around their head about an inch above their eyebrows. Be sure to keep the tape level as you measure from back to front. Once you have the correct measurements, you can head to the store to find the perfect helmet for your son or daughter.

TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL

  • If you’re concerned your child’s new helmet is a little too snug, try performing the following test. Merely, measure the distance between your child’s eyebrows and their helmet. If it’s larger than the width of two fingers, the helmet is sitting too high on their head, which means it’s too small and won’t provide the proper protection.
  • When you can easily wiggle the helmet on your child’s head around, it is most definitely too large for them. Another sign to watch for is a helmet that slides back and forth or side to side as your son or daughter moves around. A loose helmet will most likely fall off during an accident. That’s why measuring your child’s head and purchasing a properly sized helmet is so important.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

  • While most people attribute overheating to hot weather, it can unfortunately occur in a colder environment, especially for children. During physical activities, such as skiing, kids tend to heat up faster than adults, due to their higher metabolic rate. Buying a helmet with vents will help them stay cool as they conquer the ski slopes.
  • As you shop for a ski helmet you may notice some have small brims while others do not. Although, a brim is not a necessary feature, it does provide your child with a bit more eye protection when it comes to the snow and the sun.

Whether your child is hitting the slopes for the first time or they’re already a skiing pro, arming them with a properly sized helmet is a must. If an accident does occur, please contact us today to receive the guidance and advice your family deserves.