Yesterday’s death of Natasha Richardson saddened many of us, including myself. After the report was released that she was taking a lesson on a beginner “run” many people asked me, “how could she die of a brain injury on a green run”? I have been lucky in the two serious falls I have taken in the last decade…although I was wearing a helmet, both of which left me with a concussion (how can a helmet help?). Both times I was skiing extreme terrain at a pitch of over 50 degrees, however (how steep is steep?). So what happened? Medical examiner spokeswoman Ellen Borakove ruled Richardson's death an accident and said the specific cause was "epidural hematoma due to blunt impact to the head.” If she were skiing at around 15 mph and caught an edge she may have accelerated to over 25 mph before her head hit the snow. If the snow was icy (as it can be this time of year) the impact would be even greater. What may look like a minor injury to the head could actually be very serious and can certainly cause the brain to be “knocked loose” and cause a concussion due to swelling. An epidural hematoma, although rare in skiing, can happen, as was the case here. Watch How a Brain Injury can be Hidden What should you do if you hit your head while skiing? Check out the “Head First” and "Head Strong" blogs and learn how wearing a helmet and following some general safety guidelines can help prevent a potential life threatening head injury. NOTE This web site does not provide medical advice and does not direct that you undertake any specific exercise or fitness regimen. You must consent to the Terms of Use Policy and consult a physician before undertaking any activity described in this web site. Stay Fit Skiing! Andrew Hooge, CSCS, CES ahooge@fitskiing.com www.fitskiing.com Get your own customized workout at My SkiCoach