Travel insurance company requires helmets for skiiers

A major travel insurance firm said this week that customers will no longer be covered when skiing without a helmet.

Travel Insurance News - 08/11/2012

<< Scotland rail disruption continues following train derailmen | Travel News | Southern Cross Travel Insurance wins CANSTAR award >>

A major travel insurance firm said this week that customers will no longer be covered when skiing without a helmet.

Officials from Essential Travel announced on Thursday that in order to qualify for benefits, skiers and snowboarders must be wearing a helmet, and that the company can prove that no such protective gear was used in the case of numerous types of head injuries.

The firm’s website now states that “the message is clear” that helmets are now “compulsory” for sports enthusiast this winter.

Essential Travel Spokesman Stuart Bensusan told reporters that although helmets certainly do not protect against all sports injuries that they “seriously” reduce the risk of those that can be potentially fatal. He said that this factor warrants the move to make them compulsory for policy holders and added that those utilising helmets can enjoy bonus discounts and reduced premiums.

The news comes more than three years after the high-profile death of actress Natasha Richardson, who was killed at Canada’s Mont Tremblant Resort in 2009 during a beginner’s skiing lesson. Reports said that a helmet could of prevented major head injuries that ended up being fatal to the actress despite the fact that she was travelling at a very low speed when the accident occurred, forcing the issue into the spotlight.

<< Scotland rail disruption continues following train derailmen | Travel News | Southern Cross Travel Insurance wins CANSTAR award >>