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General Climbing Discussion

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Helmets are now compulsory 4-Dec-2003 At 7:44:57 PM vwills

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Its an interesting and controversial topic- similar reasons have been trotted forth in argument against the adoption of other "restrictive" public health initiatives- for example: seatbelts, motorbike and bicycle helmets.
Rock climbing injuries are far less of a public health issue in terms of utilisation of acute trauma services/ rehabilitation/disability pensions etc than motor vehicle accidents, but the same argument could be applied.
As a society we need to impinge on individual liberty (freedom to move around in a car, the feeling of wind in your hair) to lessen the burden to society of caring for injured people whose injuries could well have been lessened or prevented with the adoption of something as simple as helmet use.
I don't know if there is any evidence showing that helmet use reduces the rate of head injuries in rock climbers apart from that which is purely anecdotal. But I would be surprised if it doesn't. If the insurance company is making it a condition of insurance coverage, then they may have data. Same reason young drivers (car insurance) and smokers (life insurance) get charged more- they are at risk populations.
Perhaps the VCC could come up with a catchy slogan like "if its not on, its not on"- or has that one been used before?