SAM Magazine--Burlington, Vt., November 16, 2006--After four years of tracking helmet use among skiers and snowboarders at three Vermont Ski areas, the Vermont Snow Sports Research Team announced it is expanding its project to up to eight additional Vermont resorts, thanks to a collaboration with the Vermont Ski Areas Association (VSAA).

The research team is a partnership between the Vermont Children's Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care and the University of Vermont College of Medicine. The team has been engaged in increasing voluntary helmet use among children at Smugglers' Notch, where the bulk of the work was done, and at Bolton Valley and Bromley. To date, Ascutney, Bolton Valley, Bromley, Jay Peak and Okemo have signed on to fill the eight new slots.

The project has been successful at Smugglers' Notch, increasing helmet use among children from 60 percent to 80 percent. Helmet use among adults went from 30 percent to almost 60 percent. The main campaign involves posters, stickers and brochures with the slogan "Always Ride PHAT." PHAT stands for Protect your Head on All Terrain or at All Times.

For more information, check out http://www.skihelmetsafety.org.