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Helmet crusader seeking new coroner’s report

Reopening coroner’s report into the death of a local skier could be instrumental in creating nationwide helmet regulations, says advocate A crusader for standardized helmets and helmet regulations in Canada acknowledges that it is a sensitive is

Reopening coroner’s report into the death of a local skier could be instrumental in creating nationwide helmet regulations, says advocate

A crusader for standardized helmets and helmet regulations in Canada acknowledges that it is a sensitive issue, but believes that reopening the coroner’s investigation into the death of a Whistler skier could be instrumental to his cause.

"I felt that the report left a few critical questions unanswered," said Richard Kinar, a North Vancouver helmet advocate and former freestyle skier who volunteers as a ski patroller.

"I felt let down because the death was classified as an accident, and while I don’t argue that, I was concerned that the (coroner’s report) didn’t make any recommendations, and that the issue of the helmet was left out of the report."

The skier in question was Dave Sheets, who died at the age of 31 last February as a result of a collision with another skier. The cause of death was determined to be a head injury.

He was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, but according to the coroner’s report, it had previously been damaged.

"Mr. Sheets was wearing a racing helmet and goggles when he collided," wrote the coroner. "The goggles weren’t damaged and the helmet wasn’t scratched or scuffed. However, sometime before this incident, the narrow strip of molded plastic that went around the ear mesh on the left side of the face by the temple had cracked and been repaired with a piece of duct tape. Unfortunately, this was the location that was hit with great force by the other skier’s knee."

The coroner later made it clear that she didn’t believe that the helmet was a contributing factor in the case because of the force of the collision.

Still, Kinar wants to know more about the helmet that Sheets was wearing, and get an expert opinion on whether or not it could have been a contributing factor to the injury. He has written a letter to the Chief Coroner for the province, requesting that the investigation be reopened.

If the Chief Coroner agrees to reopen the case and determines that the helmet was at fault in any way, then Kinar hopes the coroner will make a recommendation concerning the standardization of helmets.

Kinar says he doesn’t fault the first coroner’s report or the coroner for not making any recommendations because he believes it will take an expert in the field of helmets and head injuries to make that connection.

Kinar understands that people are still upset about Sheets’ death and are sensitive to the idea of reopening the investigation. However, he points out the fact that Dave Sheets’ friends created a memorial fund in his memory to purchase critical care equipment for the Whistler Health Care Centre, to create something positive out of the tragedy. He says he is trying to do the same thing in lobbying to create a national helmet standard and education program for all of Canada that has the potential to save lives and protect people from disabilities.

"I’m not trying to come down on anybody or make anybody look bad over this, I just think it’s important to understand what happened and to understand the limitations of helmets. Standards are very important, and we just don’t have those standards for ski and snowboard helmets or skateboard helmets right now," said Kinar.

Kinar got into helmet advocacy while working speed control at a North Shore mountain after witnessing a collision between two kids wearing helmets. One of the kids was knocked unconscious, even though both were wearing helmets.

He decided to do a little investigating, reading the fine prints of helmets, and was shocked to learn that there wasn’t a Canadian safety standard in place for helmets manufactured for skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding or inline skating.

The Canadian Standards Association does have standards in place for cycling and hockey helmets that are among the most rigid in the world. Canada was also the first country to have helmet standards for children under the age of five, which has since been adopted by other countries.

Because the CSA certification keeps non-certified helmets for cycling and hockey out of the marketplace, Kinar thinks people assume that the same applies to helmets for other sports as well. Most people think that all helmets meet a minimum standard, but that’s not the case, he says.

With more communities opening skate parks and more ski hills putting helmet rules in place for terrain parks, Kinar says it’s important that parents and consumers know something about their helmets, and can trust the helmets they buy to meet a recognizable standard.

Many of the helmets on the market are certified under various standards, he says, but those standards vary from country to country and from brand to brand.

For example, many helmets on the market are single impact, while others are designed to absorb multiple impacts.

"I question whether any skier or snowboarder or skateboarder or inline skater should be using a single impact helmet for park riding or any other activities. If you fall once – even if you drop a single impact helmet – it could be useless for protection. You might not even see that they’re damaged," said Kinar.

Because multi-impact helmets are sturdier, Kinar feels that helmet laws need to be changed to reflect that as well. At the very least, customers should be educated enough to make that call themselves.

Kinar has lobbied governments at the local, provincial and federal levels, and is making some headway. This week he held his first conference call with the CSA and various biomedical experts and head injury experts that back a national helmet standard.

Many municipal governments and the province have agreed that there needs to be helmet standards, but nobody is sure whose jurisdiction it should fall under.

Whistler is among the municipalities that has gone on record to support the creation of a national standard.

Kinar estimates that it will cost about $400,000 to create a national helmet standard for all sports.

"It may seem like a lot, but a single spinal injury or head injury can cost more than that, so if we can reduce those kinds of injuries then this initiative will really pay for itself," he said.

Friends of Dave Sheets agree with the idea of creating a national helmet standard, but don’t believe in re-opening the coroner’s report at this time, and are doubtful the helmet was a factor in Sheets’ death.

"The impact was so great, it wouldn’t have mattered," said Chris Quinlan, who spoke to friends and associates of Dave Sheets when he heard about Kinar’s request to the Chief Coroner. "People’s opinion is that the coroner’s report was correct.

"Yes, people think there should be a standard, and yes, there should be education, but we don’t support reopening the corner’s report. Because Dave knew what he was wearing. He knew what he was doing – he was a pro."

Quinlan currently sits on the Whistler Health Care Foundation board, which administers the Dave Sheets Memorial Fund for Critical Care Equipment.

You can make a donation to the fund at the Whistler Health Care Centre.