Skiing, Snowboarding or Snowmobiling? A Helmet Can Protect You From Brain Injury

No one would consider going outside during winter in Ontario without a warm jacket and gloves to protect against the cold, but a surprising number of individuals still engage in skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and playing hockey without protecting themselves against potential traumatic brain injury by wearing a helmet.

Severe brain injuries resulting from ski accidents, snowboarding accidents and snowmobiling accidents can be devastating and cause permanent, irreversible brain damage to the injured person. A hypoxic brain injury or cerebral hypoxia is a condition that refers to a severe decrease of oxygen supplied to the brain, even though there is sufficient blood flow. This condition may be caused by a blockage in the respiratory tract or airways brought about by conditions such as head trauma.

As is the case with other brain injury trauma, damage to the frontal lobe can occur as a result of a winter sport injury. The brain injury can impair the person’s ability to physically and mentally function on a day-to-day basis for the rest of their lives. Brain injury symptoms include cognitive impairments, speech impairments, memory loss and reduced or complete loss of ability to work, care for self, or enjoy life as before the incident.

Because of traumatic brain injury incidents, many provinces are implementing helmet laws to prevent the risk of brain injury trauma to individuals while engaging in winter sports.

Ontario’s injury lawyers lawyers have experience dealing with cases involving hypoxic brain injury, traumatic brain injury, head concussions and other head injuries, commonly suffered in car and motor vehicle accidents, assaults, and types of personal injuries like slip and falls. We work with many trusted and respected medical experts and health care professionals that can assist in the litigation process, from assessment to trial.

We encourage you to take precautions to protect yourself and your family against potential severe brain injury by wearing a helmet when playing sports this winter. By taking this simple step you can be sure you will enjoy many years of great memories in winters to come.