Enjoy indoor, outdoor winter sports safely Published Dec. 14, 2012 By Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Safety officer Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The popularity of winter sports continues to grow each season. The National Ski Areas Association announced U.S. ski areas tallied an estimated 51 million skier-and-snowboarder visits during the 2011 to 12 season. Owing to the warm winter recorded for the continental U.S. last year, the numbers show a 15-percent decline from the previous season. Fans of winter sports are looking forward to a more normal snowfall and more normal conditions for these outdoor activities. Helmets for some winter sports have become more popular. According to the NSAA: · Survey respondents were wearing a helmet 60.8 percent of the time while being interviewed, up from 56.5 percent last season (2009 to 2010) and 25 percent in 2002 to 2003. · Helmet usage increases with ability level, rising from 46-percent usage by beginners, to 58 percent by intermediates, to 69 percent by advanced and expert participants. · Helmet usage is higher for children aged 9 and under (93 percent) and 10 to 14 (79 percent), and adults aged 55 to 64 (68 percent) and 65 and older (73 percent), than for other age groups. Helmet usage is lowest among 18 to 24 year olds (48 percent). All winter sports enthusiasts, at home or abroad, face the same safety hazards. There are many risk-management decisions everyone can make to mitigate the risks associated with skiing, snowboarding or sledding. Don't forget about two other aspects of winter that have the potential for accidents: walking on snow and ice; and indoor sports such as indoor hockey or basketball.