My new post at Cato at Liberty, following on a theme pursued by NYT science writer John Tierney, looks at some of the risks of trying to make children’s play too safe. More: UK Telegraph (“Health and safety fears are taking the joy out of playtime.”); Lenore Skenazy, Free-Range Kids.
4 Comments
Haven’t we seen this at ski areas, where despite marked and rated trails, groomed slopes, poles that support lifts being padded, fenced off areas, out-of-bounds areas marked, breakaway skis, helmets, etc. . . . The number of deaths at ski areas has increased?
Melvin,
Has the percentage of deaths increased or has the number of skiers increased and the percentage remained the same?
One death in a million looks pretty good when you only have ten thousand people skiing, but when you have one hundred million skiiing…..
As I recall, the number of skiers had remained steady but the number of deaths (and injuries for that matter) had risen. Mind, we’re not talking about some ridiculous increase–say, by a factor of 50 or 100–but the actual number had risen.
If anyone out there knows where such numbers can be found, I am more than willing to be corrected.
I dont have any stats, but I have been skiing since 1975.
While skiing accidents are common, actual deaths are very rare.
Lately snowboarders outnumber skiers, and the demographics have changed as well, which may account for any increase in accidents.