Deaths of Bono, Kennedy throw spotlight on skiing safety
January 6, 1998
Web posted at: 11:13 p.m. EST (0413 GMT)
(CNN) -- The millions of ordinary people who ski may be worrying about the safety of their sport after the skiing deaths of two American celebrities in one week.
The deaths of entertainer-turned-congressman Sonny Bono on Monday and Michael Kennedy, son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, on New Year's Eve have raised awareness of the dangers of skiing and could lead to safety measures such as mandatory helmet use.
But some proponents say skiing is considered safe when compared with other sports.
"It's a high-energy sport but it's not more dangerous than other sports," said Stacey Gardner, a spokeswoman for the National Ski Areas Association.
An average of 32 deaths result from ski-related incidents each year in the United States, according to the association. By comparison, there were 800 bicycle-related deaths and 716 recreational boating deaths in 1995.
Head injuries are common
However, head injuries -- which killed both Bono and Kennedy -- are more common in skiing than people may realize. One mountain area trauma center treated 287 patients for head wounds resulting from skiing and snowboarding accidents from 1982 to 1997, according to Dr. Stewart Levy of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
The most common cause of such injuries was collision with a fixed object -- such as a tree, rock or chairlift support pole, Levy said. Many ski resorts now wrap poles in padding.
"Trees were by far the most common objects the skiers collided with," Levy said, adding that more than 80 percent of such accidents occurred in the afternoon.
Both Kennedy and Bono were skiing in the afternoon -- Kennedy in Aspen, Colorado, and Bono in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada -- when they apparently lost control of their skis and slammed into trees.
"A lot of serious injuries and fatalities occur at the end of the day when people are fatigued. Their muscles are tired and they don't have the control they had at the beginning of the day. In addition, the lighting on the slopes is not as good at that time of day," Gardner said.
Kennedy was killed while skiing with friends and family as they tossed around a water bottle they were using as a football while skiing down an intermediate slope. Witnesses said Kennedy was also videotaping the activity and slammed into a tree after catching the makeshift ball.
There were apparently no witnesses to Bono's death. He was skiing on his own, and his body was found just off an intermediate trail.
Accidents on the decline
Levy says many head injury accidents could be prevented by improving ski slope design "so skiers are not at risk for hitting objects."
But Gardner said ski areas already "expend tremendous efforts in skier education," teaching skiers the rules of the slopes and emphasizing caution on the mountain.
While the most serious injuries on the slopes occur when a skier runs into a tree or pole, other, less serious skiing injuries include: lower leg injuries that are often the result of improperly set bindings; thumb ligament damage associated with ski poles pushing the thumbs back; shoulder dislocations; and eye injuries.
However, new ski equipment and better technology have reduced the incidence of injuries. For example, the incidence of broken legs has declined 95 percent since the 1970s.
"Over the last 20 years, we've definitely seen a decrease in skiing-related injuries," said Dr. Julie Gilchrist of the Centers for Disease Control.
Could helmets become mandatory?
Experts say skiers should wear protective gear, from helmets to wrist supports. Last month, an American Medical Association report said youngsters should be urged to wear ski helmets.
On Tuesday, Dr. Carolyn Ferree, chairwoman of the committee, said the two high-profile deaths may prompt the nation's largest organization of doctors to rethink the issue and perhaps press for legislation requiring helmet use among both children and adults.
Head injuries account for 2.6 percent of all ski accidents, according to an AMA report based on ski mishaps at Sugarbush, Vermont, from 1981 to 1997.
Using an estimate from Sugarbush that was multiplied by the estimated number of ski visits nationwide, the AMA concluded there were 135,000 accidents and 3,537 potentially serious head injuries during that period. Of those, 77 percent were mild concussions and less than 1 percent were fatal.
The AMA estimates two skiers, on average, die of head injuries each year.
However, AMA committee members said they had no data on which ski helmets might be best or how they should be built to provide the greatest protection. Also, their cost can be high, at $100 to $200 apiece.
An AMA endorsement of ski helmets could carry considerable weight. In the 1980s, several states adopted bicycle helmet laws based on the recommendation of the AMA.
'It's your responsibility'
Michael Berry, another spokesman for the National Ski Areas Association, said resorts don't require helmets because there are no recognized standards for which ones are best. He said he doesn't see mandated helmet use in the immediate future.
"If you're in control, then the need for appliances becomes less important," he said. "These accidents are focusing attention on a sport that actually has a good safety record."
While the issue of mandated helmet use remains to be resolved, experts recommend that for now, skiers wear appropriate eye wear and stick to slopes matching their own levels of ability. They also should refrain from skiing when tired, and take time to adjust to the altitude and the physical demands of the sport.
Ultimately, a skier's safety is in his or her own hands. "It's your responsibility," Gardner said.
Medical Correspondent Dr. Steve Salvatore, correspondent Rusty Dornin, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.