Thousands of Britains are injured each year Skiing

17th March 2009

On average 10,000 Britons are hurt each year whilst in the Alps through ski related injuries. This has been highlight this week with the injury to Natasha Richards whist skiing in Canada at Mont Tremblant. Just indicating the true dangers we all submit our self’s to each time we hit the slopes!

Thousands of Britains are injured each year Skiing

Despite a series of high profile accidents, however, safety experts insist the sport should not be regarded as any more dangerous than a game of football.

Dr Mike Langran, a Scottish-based GP who has studied alpine injury rates for several years, said around three in every 1,000 enthusiasts require medical attention. The risk of death was less than one in a million, he added.

Dr Langran added: "I don't personally regard snow sports in general as dangerous sports at all.

"For a start, the overall injury risk combining all the snow sports is about 0.2% to 0.4%.

"This is really very low. Think of an average game of football. Usually two or three players end up with an injury at the end of the game."

Injury rates on the slopes have been decreasing over the years, he said.

Dr Langran added: "From the 1970s to the early 1990s the absolute injury rate for alpine skiing has decreased by about 50%, mainly due to the development of release bindings and ski brakes.

"The vast majority of snow sports injuries occur as the direct result of an isolated fall, by which I simply mean something goes wrong and the person falls over.

"Most of the time the injured person has lost control, often travelling too fast for the prevailing conditions and on a slope inappropriate to their ability level.

"About 10% of accidents result from a collision with another person or object, 5% are lift related and 5% occur as the result of equipment failure. Secondary factors are of course important - for example impact with solid snow or ice."

A spokeswoman for the Ski Club of Great Britain said skiers and snowboarders put themselves most at risk by being reckless.

She added: "The Ski Club of Great Britain advises skiers and snowboarders to always be in control of their speed and ensure they are skiing or snowboarding within their own ability. It is important to be aware of other mountain users and obey the rules of the slopes. As long as these guidelines are followed, skiing and snowboarding can be enjoyed safely and by people of all ages and levels."

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