%0 Journal Article
%T Achieving all-age helmet use compliance for snow sports: strategic use of education, legislation and enforcement
%J Injury prevention
%D 2016
%A Fenerty, Lynne
%A Heatley, Jennifer
%A Young, Julian
%A Thibault-Halman, Ginette
%A Kureshi, Nelofar
%A Bruce, Beth S.
%A Walling, Simon
%A Clarke, David B.
%V 22
%N 3
%P 176-180
%X BACKGROUND: Nova Scotia is the first jurisdiction in the world to mandate ski and snowboard helmet use for all ages at ski hills in the province. This study represents a longitudinal examination of the effects of social marketing, educational campaigns and the introduction of helmet legislation on all-age snow sport helmet use in Nova Scotia.
METHODS: A baseline observational study was conducted to establish the threshold of ski and snowboarding helmet use. Based on focus groups and interviews, a social marketing campaign was designed and implemented to address factors influencing helmet use. A prelegislation observational study assessed the effects of social marketing and educational promotion on helmet use. After all-age snow sport helmet legislation was enacted and enforced, a postlegislation observational study was conducted to determine helmet use prevalence.
RESULTS: Baseline data revealed that 74% of skiers and snowboarders were using helmets, of which 80% were females and 70% were males. Helmet use was high in children (96%), but decreased with increasing age. Following educational and social marketing campaigns, overall helmet use increased to 90%. After helmet legislation was enacted, 100% compliance was observed at ski hills in Nova Scotia.
CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study demonstrate that a multifaceted approach, including education, legislation and enforcement, was effective in achieving full helmet compliance among all ages of skiers and snowboarders.
Language: en
%G en %I BMJ Publishing Group %@ 1353-8047 %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2015-041699