%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