| A large percentage of injuries in the snow-park occur due to people failing to understand or failing to adhere to the rules of the park or pipe. |
25% of accidents are due to collision, either with another person or with a static object such as a tree or safety gates. |
The chance of needing hospital treatment following a Snowsports holiday is between 2 – 3%, which is a much lower figure than other sporting holidays. |
Between 85 to 90% of avalanche slides are caused by the victim or a member of the victims party |
| The number of ski injuries has actually been decreasing since the late 1970’s. |
Within five seconds of an avalanche being triggered (dry slab avalanche) it will be travelling at between 60 – 80mph. |
A snow-pack that has been rained on is often very weak as the water causes bonds between snow in the buried layers to dissolve.
|
Wearing a helmet reduces incidence of less serious head injuries by between 30 – 50%. And reduces severity of all head injuries in 50% of cases. |
| Loud noise does not trigger avalanches, it is an idea often used in the movies |
Avalanches are the only natural hazard caused by the victims. |
Helmets are more likely to be worn by expert skiers (45% of those who wear helmets) than by entry-level skiers (19%). |
In comparison to alpine skiers, far fewer entry-level snowboarders take professional lessons.
|
| On average 33.2% of the recreational skiers and snowboarders wear helmets whilst riding. The highest percentage of those who wear helmets are children under 9years and adults over 65years. |
A wind loaded snow-pack is the most unstable type of pack. Snow can be deposited x10 faster by wind than by a snow storm. This added weight often causes slides. |
Due to fantastic medical advances in this field, the majority of those who injure their ACL (one of the most common serious snowsports injuries) can return to skiing or snowboarding in under a year. |
The majority of insurance claims made in the U.S in relation to the snowsports industry are due to bindings (both on skis and snowboards) not being set up correctly and therefore not responding as they should. Always remember to get a qualified ski technician to do this job. |
| Sunglasses and goggles made specifically for skiing and snowboarding should block out between 99 – 100% of harmful UVA and UVB radiation. |
A common misconception is that avalanches strike without warning. In fact they happen in specific places and are dependent on a number of snow and weather conditions. Often the signs are glaringly obvious. |
Skilled off piste/backcountry professionals have a surprisingly low fatality rate compared to recreational skiers who venture off piste. Less than 1% of avalanche fatalities and serious injuries involve professionals.
|
In Italy it has been made illegal for all children aged 14 or younger to take part in skiing or snowboarding without a helmet. Instructors can have their license revoked for teaching children without helmets. |
More help with logging on