The untimely death of actress Natasha Richardson from head trauma sustained in a fall while skiing brings to mind the tragic skiing deaths of other celebrities. In January 1998, Sonny Bono died of injuries after hitting a tree while skiing in Nevada and Michael Kennedy, one of son Robert F. Kennedy sons, also died while skiing in Aspen, Colorado. Neither of these men nor Richardson had been wearing a helmet.

The official cause of death for Natasha Richardson was epidural hematoma or bleeding between the skull and the covering of the brain. This is often a treatable condition but only if the victim can be hospitalized immediately. Health experts strongly recommend that all skiers and snowboarders wear helmets. The National Ski Areas Association reports that helmet usage in the United States has grown significantly in recent years. According to their studies, 43 percent of U.S. skiers and boarders wore helmets in 2007/08 compared to only 25 percent of skiers and boarders during the 2002/03 season. Here is a list of other celebrities who have died while skiing.

Unfortunately, it often takes a high profile accident such as Richardson’s to make the public aware of the importance of safety measures like wearing a helmet on the slopes. Hopefully, this incident will be incentive enough. Have questions about skiing or head injuries? Please post them at Healia Communities.

_{Photo: Rick Smit, Flickr, Creative Commons}