Immediate (November 8, 2006)

Mike Noble, Collin Parker
Fletcher Allen Public Relations
802-847-2886

Fletcher Allen/UVM Team Joins Vermont Ski Areas Association to Expand "PHAT" Ski Helmet Safety Project

BURLINGTON, VT - After four successful years of tracking helmet use among skiers and snowboarders at two nearby ski areas, the Vermont Snow Sports Research Team today announced it is expanding its project further, thanks to a new collaboration with the Vermont Ski Areas Association (VSAA).

The Vermont Snow Sports Research Team, a partnership of Vermont Children's Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care and the University of Vermont College of Medicine, has been engaged in increasing voluntary ski helmet use among children to prevent serious head injuries. Much of the work has been done at Smugglers' Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, Vermont.  The ski areas at Bolton and Bromley VT were also used to gather data.

VSAA President Parker Riehle said, "We are pleased that the Vermont Snow Sports Research Team plans to expand their project to more Vermont ski areas this season.  Helmet use is an important issue and this project is an excellent educational effort geared towards young skiers and riders."

This new collaboration with the VSAA will allow the Snow Sports Research Team to expand its work.  Up to eight additional Vermont resorts from across the state can be included in this first phase of the project's expansion, broadening the database significantly.  To date, joining Smuggler's Notch Resort in promoting voluntary helmet use this season are Ascutney Mountain Resort, Bolton Valley Resort, Bromley Mountain, Jay Peak Resort, and Okemo Mountain Resort.

The project has been very successful to date with over 80% of children now in helmets at Smugglers' Notch, up from 60% in the 2002-2003 season. Helmet use for adults has also shown large increases, with almost 60% of adult skiers and riders now using helmets, up from 30% on the 2002-2003 season. The study, based on more than 30,000 observations of skiers and riders over the last four winters, shows that among children female snowboarders are the least likely to wear a helmet, while younger male skiers are the most likely to wear a helmet.

"Based on our results to date it is clear that we need to get the message of the importance of helmet use out to as many people as we can," said Robert Williams, M.D., study coordinator, pediatric anesthesiologist, and critical care specialist at Vermont Children's Hospital at Fletcher Allen.  "This collaboration with VSAA will enable us to expand this project significantly.

"We will be able to reach tens of thousands of additional skiers and snowboarders, many of whom come to Vermont's ski resorts from other places," Williams said. "This means that we will be able to spread our message of the importance of helmets far beyond the boarders of our state."

A 1999 report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission revealed that 7,700 head injuries could be prevented every year if skiers and snowboarders wore helmets on the slopes.

The team has developed a poster, stickers and a brochure designed to appeal to young skiers and boarders that promote helmet use.  The team adopted "Always ride PHAT" as the byline for its multi-year campaign.  PHAT is an acronym for "Protect your Head on All Terrain" and "Protect your Head at All Times."

The Vermont Snow Sports Research Team Web site address is: http://www.skihelmetsafety.org.

About the Vermont Ski Areas Association

The Vermont Ski Areas Association/Ski Vermont is a trade association that represents the Vermont Alpine and Nordic ski industry. Vermont is the nation's third largest ski state, with skier visits each season generating more than $1 billion in economic activity for Vermont.

About Fletcher Allen Health Care

Fletcher Allen Health Care, in alliance with the University of Vermont College of Medicine, is Vermont's academic health center and one of 125 in the country.  Founded in 1995, through the merger of Fanny Allen Hospital, Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, and University Health Center, Fletcher Allen Health Care serves one million people in Vermont and northern New York.  The organization provides care at more than 40 sites and 100 outreach clinics in the region.

About the UVM College of Medicine

Located in Burlington, the University of Vermont College of Medicine was founded in 1822 as the nation's seventh medical school. One of only 126 medical schools in the US, the College is home to both the National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive Vermont Cancer Center and a National Institutes of Health-funded General Clinical Research Center. Affiliated teaching hospitals include Fletcher Allen Health Care and the Maine Medical Center; over 35% of Vermont's physicians were educated or trained at the College. The College employs 613 full-time faculty and 480 staff, and received over $77 million in research funding in 2006, ranking in the top third of medical schools for grants per faculty member. Enrollment currently includes 418 medical students, 102 graduate students, 79 post doctoral fellows and 2 residents.