Staying safe on your winter holiday

Staying safe on your winter holiday 12 million people from the UK will take a winter holiday during the coming months. Due to the fast-paced nature of the sport, there is a high level of risk involved, with injuries ranging from minor sprains and bruising to more serious injuries including head trauma, whiplash, and fractured and broken bones. Why wear a helmet on the piste? According to new research from the 74% of head injuries occurred when skiers hit their head on the snow, 10% when they collided with each other and 13% when they collided with FCO, of those British nationals that go on winter sports holidays 70% admitted they do not always wear a helmet when skiing or 70% 74% fixed objects. snowboarding. 2 out of 3 skiers and snowboarders A 2011 British Medical Journal study 59% out 2of 3 from the University of Innsbruck suggested helmet use reduced head injuries by 35% in adults and 59% in children who had been in a collision but hadn't suffered an injury said that they always wore helmets. under 13. Costs incurred through injury Getting back to the UK from a ski accident means a special flight costing up to £4,000 from Europe E4k and £8,000 from the US and Canada. A fall resulting in a broken hip, treatment in a Spanish hospital with return flights cost £15,000. £15k The average cost of treating a broken leg in Europe for example is £1,100 E9k and a whopping £9,000 in the USA. The cost of a helicopter rescue from the £2.5k pistes to hospital is likely to cost £2,500 in Europe. Travel Insurance Research by ABTA reveals that 22% of people now Always check the terms and conditions of your travel abroad uninsured. Younger people are policy. Common exclusions include going off-piste significantly more likely to risk travelling overseas without insurance as they believe the Government will pay for their treatment. Cost is the principal reason without a qualified guide, skiing under the influence of alcohol or ignoring local authority warnings. Also make sure your policy pays for both transport to hospital and they don't take out travel insurance. back home to the UK. Tips to stay safe on the slopes Take out insurance - and check what it Make sure someone knows where you're going covers. It might not cover off piste skiing unless and tell them of any changes to your plans. you are with a qualified guide. If you want to go off piste, go with a qualified guide. Have a check-up before you ski - one of the major causes of hospitalisation and death on the slopes is heart attacks If going off piste carry a shovel, a probe and a transceiver in case of an avalanche. Also Don't drink and ski. Alcohol can affect you remember that you need proper training on faster at high altitudes and dangerously how to use a transceiver. limits your awareness of risk and cold. If you are going out on a glacier, you must wear a harness. If you fall into a crevasse, this will Most skiing injuries are caused by collisions with other skiers - Watch your speed and distance. help the rescue team get you out. Don't attempt slopes you're not experienced or fit enough to tackle. BARLOW ROBBINS SOLICITORS http://recover.barlowrobbins.com/our-news Source: Association of British Travel Agents, University of Innsbruck and Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 000