Renewed debate over mandatory helmets and slope patrols

The serious skiing accident involving Thuringian Minister-President Dieter Althaus and a 41-year-old female skier has reignited the debate, which has resurfaced from time to time over the years, about making helmets mandatory and appointing slope patrols. While Althaus survived the skiing accident with serious head injuries, it was too late to save the Slovakian ski tourist and mother of four.

Both mandatory helmets and slope patrols at Alpine ski resorts have prominent supporters in Hilde Gerg and Markus Wasmeier. Gerg issued an appeal particularly to all adults skiing with children and teenagers, urging them to take their role-model responsibilities seriously and wear a helmet while skiing. The 2005 world champion had a painful experience of her own nearly a year ago when she fell without a helmet, and has worn head protection whenever she skis ever since.

Markus Wasmeier, the two-time Olympic champion from 1994, shares her view. Head injuries are by far the most common cause of death in accidents on ski slopes, making special protection essential, Wasmeier said. He also advocates slope patrols, who can, if necessary, remove particularly reckless or intoxicated skiers from the slopes. He pointed to Italy, where children under 16 must wear helmets while skiing, and Canada, which has made its ski resorts much safer with the help of slope patrols.