What to do if you have an accident when skiing

Skiing is great fun and makes for a fabulous family holiday, but the adrenaline buzz is not without risk. It is estimated that a staggering 300 million people around the world are involved in winter sports, with 200m skiers and 100m snowboarders, so it is inevitable that accidents will happen. Here’s what to do if you are involved in, or come across an accident, whilst out on the slopes, plus common skiing injuries you should be aware of.

Facts and stats about ski injuries

• Men make up 85% of fatalities
• The highest risk age group being those between late teens to late 30’s which make up for 70% of the fatalities
• 10% of all injuries on the slopes are a result of collisions
• Borrowing skiing equipment from friends can increase your risk of a ski accident by up to 800%
• You are twice as likely to be injured on a snowboard as on skis
• Wearing a ski helmet reduces your risk of a head injury by as much as 29-56%

Always ensure your equipment fits you properly and you give accurate weight, height and ability information when hiring equipment to ensure that the binding are set at the safest and most appropriate level for your skiing to avoid accidents.

First Aid Following an Accident
Danger

• Be aware of your surroundings and do not put yourself at risk. Others on the slopes will be unaware something has happened and are likely to be approaching at speed.
• Check it is safe before crossing to help
• Secure the accident area
• Alert approaching skiers by putting crossed skis or a planted snowboard above the injured person.
• If necessary, position someone prominently at the top of the slope to warn people about the accident. If that isn’t possible then yell to warn approaching skiers.
• Get help, emergency numbers are printed on most piste maps or at ski schools and you should note them down when buying your lift pass. Always start the day with a fully charged phone.

Response

• are they conscious? If so, check if they need your help, before approaching.

If there is no response

Airway – tilt their head and lift their chin and check for obvious obstruction.

Breathing – check for breathing.

If they are breathing, very carefully put them in the recovery position. Ideally get other skiers to help log roll them into the recovery position.

If they are not breathing – then start CPR.

If they are conscious and having excluded first aid for life-threatening injuries – first aid for other injuries.

• Circulation – cover any wounds and apply direct firm pressure to stop them bleeding.
• Ideally have a foil blanket with you as part of your first aid kit. Please note that hypothermia makes it more difficult for blood to clot, conserve their body heat and insulate them from the cold.
• Do not reposition limbs you think could be broken, unless there is immediate concern about the circulation to the lower part of the limb. If you are in a remote area and there may be a delay getting help. If there is a lack of sensation to the casualty’s extremities or change in colour, you may need to reposition the injured limb to a neutral position to restore circulation.
• Keep the casualty safe and warm.
• Do not give them anything to eat or drink, especially alcohol. Do not move them (unless it is absolutely necessary).

Alert the rescue services
The telephone number is normally on the piste map. Or calling 112 will contact the emergency services when you are abroad.

Let the rescue services know:

• location of the accident (piste name and nearest piste marker)
• number of people injured
• type of injury

Establish the facts of a serious accident

• names and addresses of people involved as well as witnesses.
• place, time and circumstances of accident.
• terrain, snow conditions and visibility.
• markings and signs.

Some common skiing injuries
Raising awareness can help reduce the likelihood of being injured. Here are some common injuries arsing from skiing.

Concussion
Follows an injury to the head from a fall, a collision either with another person or an object such as a tree.

Signs to look for:

• drowsy
• confused
• unable to stand
• may vomit.

If a person displays any of these signs, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Most concussion recovers with rest, however concussion can be a sign of a more serious traumatic brain injury and the casualty can deteriorate as the brain swells. The swelling within the confined area of the skull can cause further serious damage to the brain tissue. Please read our article on Traumatic brain injury to learn more about what to look out for and what to do.

Dislocated Shoulder
Dislocated shoulders can occur through two main ways: the skier outstretches their arms when falling. This puts them at serious risk of injury, as their arm resists the full force of the fall.

Secondly, dislocated shoulders can happen when a skier’s pole gets stuck or wrapped up in their body when they fall, forcing their arm into a poor position.

Signs to look for:

• the shoulder swells up
• feel loose
• and give off a dull pain

It may be a painful experience, and could take you out of action for the rest of the holiday. Never be tempted to pop a dislocated shoulder back in to place as you trap nerves and blood vessels and you could make things worse.

Fractured Collar Bone
This common ski injury can result from a bad fall onto an arm or shoulder or from a collision.

Signs to look for:

• pain
• swelling in the area
• an abnormality, felt or seen on the bone

It can be a very serious injury and medical attention should be sought immediately. The arm should be immobilised with a bandage or sling to keep movement to a minimum as this can cause further damage.

Skier’s Thumb
When a skier falls and they are still holding onto their ski pole, their thumb can be forced back. This can cause damage to the ligaments at the base of the thumb and can feel tender.

Signs to look for:

• pain at the base of the thumb
• swelling of the thumb
• inability to grasp between your thumb and forefinger
• thumb turning black or blue

An ice pack and a supportive bandage can help. It can take a long time for this injury to heal.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament is located at the front of your knee in the middle, and its role is to prevent the knee from extending or twisting too far.

However, if your skies catch and force your knee to twist too far, it can rupture.

Signs to look for:

• pain
• noise and sensation similar to cracking knuckles
• knee and leg swell up
• limb feels weak

This injury can take several weeks to heal.

It is strongly advised that you complete an online or attend a practical or online first aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency. Click here or call 0208 675 4036 for more information about our courses. First Aid for Life provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. First Aid for Life is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made or actions taken based on this information.