Nova Scotia has just become the first Canadian state to make helmet-wearing mandatory.  Already 88% of skiers/boarders in Nova Scotia wear a helmet.  Starting November 2012, skiers and snowboarders of all ages without a helmet will face a $250 fine.  In North America,  it is already compulsory for children to wear a helmet, but Nova Scotia is thought to be the first ski area in the world to make it compulsory for everyone to wear a helmet on the slopes.

This announcement coincides with new research from the Swiss Council of Accident Prevention who revealed last week that 81% of skiers in Switzerland wore a helmet in 2010/11 – an impressive statistic when you consider only 16% of people wore a helmet just a decade ago.  Nowadays helmet-wearing is commonplace – with a huge choice of styles and designs, almost a fashion accessory on the slopes.  However it seems unlikely that it will become compulsory in European resorts at present.    

Click here to find out more about helmet safety in ski resorts around the world.