{"id":2561,"date":"2025-01-29T17:29:49","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T17:29:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/?p=2561"},"modified":"2025-01-29T17:29:49","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T17:29:49","slug":"winter-helmet-safety-and-concussion-awareness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/?p=2561","title":{"rendered":"Winter Helmet Safety and Concussion Awareness"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As we enjoy winter activities such as skating, skiing, and sledding, it&#8217;s important to keep safety in mind. Wearing a properly fitted helmet can significantly reduce the risk of head injuries, including serious brain trauma, and help protect you and your loved ones.<\/p>\n<h4>Winter Helmet Safety<\/h4>\n<p>Choosing the right helmet is essential for protecting your head during winter sports. Different helmets are designed for different activities:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Hockey Helmets:<\/strong> Best suited for both hockey and skating, these helmets are built to withstand falls on ice.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ski Helmets:<\/strong> Designed for downhill skiing, these helmets offer protection against impacts common in skiing and are also made for cold weather.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Skateboarding Helmets:<\/strong> These helmets are designed to absorb multiple impacts, which are more common in skateboarding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It\u2019s important to use the appropriate helmet for the sport you\u2019re participating in to ensure optimal protection.<\/p>\n<h4>Concussion Awareness<\/h4>\n<p>A concussion is a type of brain injury caused by a blow to the head, face, or neck, or even from a hit to the body that causes the head to jolt. Symptoms of a concussion can include confusion, headaches, dizziness, memory problems, nausea, and issues with balance or vision.<\/p>\n<p>If you experience any of these symptoms, stop the activity immediately and seek medical attention right away. Early recognition and proper treatment of concussions are crucial for safe recovery.<\/p>\n<h4>Helmet Use at City of Ottawa Facilities<\/h4>\n<p>The City of Ottawa encourages helmet use for a variety of activities. Helmets are strongly recommended to prevent serious head injuries in the following activities:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Skateboarding<\/li>\n<li>In-line skating<\/li>\n<li>Cycling<\/li>\n<li>Sledding<\/li>\n<li>Skating<\/li>\n<li>Skiing<\/li>\n<li>Snowboarding<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Wearing a helmet can prevent injuries that may have long-lasting effects. If you are under the age of 18, wearing a certified bicycle helmet is mandatory while riding a bike. Always ensure your helmet fits properly to provide the best protection.<\/p>\n<h4>Choosing and Wearing the Right Helmet<\/h4>\n<p>When selecting a helmet, keep these tips in mind:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Choose the appropriate helmet<\/strong> for the activity you&#8217;re engaging in. Helmets are designed for specific types of impacts and conditions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ensure a proper fit.<\/strong> A helmet should sit snugly on your head without being too tight or too loose. It should stay in place when you shake your head.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Certification matters.<\/strong> Look for a certification label inside the helmet to confirm it meets safety standards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When purchasing a helmet, it\u2019s also important to avoid buying used helmets, as you can\u2019t always know their history or condition.<\/p>\n<h4>Helmet Replacement<\/h4>\n<p>Helmets are designed to protect you during impacts, but over time they can lose their effectiveness. Be sure to replace your helmet if:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It has been in a crash or has suffered a large impact.<\/li>\n<li>It no longer fits properly.<\/li>\n<li>It shows visible damage, such as cracks or dents.<\/li>\n<li>The straps are worn, torn, or no longer functional.<\/li>\n<li>It\u2019s more than five years old.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Regularly inspect your helmet, especially before the start of each season, to ensure it still offers the protection you need.<\/p>\n<h4>Helmet Use for On-Ice Activities<\/h4>\n<p>For those participating in ice activities, the City of Ottawa highly recommends wearing a CSA-certified hockey helmet. This is especially important for children:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Children 10 and under<\/strong> are required to wear a CSA-certified hockey helmet during all public or specialty skating sessions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>All skaters,<\/strong> regardless of age, are strongly encouraged to wear a CSA-certified hockey helmet for added safety.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For City of Ottawa programs and registered on-ice activities, participants are required to wear a CSA-certified hockey helmet. Additionally, helmets with full face protection (such as a cage or mask) are recommended, particularly for young children.<\/p>\n<h3>Stay Safe and Informed<\/h3>\n<p>We encourage everyone to follow safety guidelines to ensure a fun and injury-free winter season. If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to reach out or check out more details <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ottawapublichealth.ca\/en\/public-health-topics\/helmet-safety.aspx\">here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wearing the right helmet for winter activities, such as skating, skiing, and sledding, is essential for protecting against head injuries and ensuring safety during fun outdoor sports.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2562,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-government"],"aioseo_notices":[],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf.png",400,250,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf.png",400,250,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf.png",400,250,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf-300x188.png",300,188,true],"large":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf.png",400,250,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf.png",400,250,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf.png",400,250,false],"inforward-post-grid":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf.png",400,250,false],"inforward-full":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf.png",400,250,false],"inforward-post-full":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf.png",400,250,false],"inforward-related-posts-image":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf-230x150.png",230,150,true],"inforward-portfolio-small-image":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf-360x250.png",360,250,true],"inforward-portfolio-big-image":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf.png",400,250,false],"inforward-testimonial":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf-263x250.png",263,250,true],"inforward-events-slider":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf.png",400,250,false],"woocommerce_thumbnail":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf-300x250.png",300,250,true],"woocommerce_single":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf.png",400,250,false],"woocommerce_gallery_thumbnail":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf-100x100.png",100,100,true],"rt_custom":["https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eojsnnqf.png",400,250,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Andrea Shane","author_link":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/?author=3"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/?cat=75\" rel=\"category\">Government<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Wearing the right helmet for winter activities, such as skating, skiing, and sledding, is essential for protecting against head injuries and ensuring safety during fun outdoor sports.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2561","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2561"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2561\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2564,"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2561\/revisions\/2564"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timtierneyottawa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}