​A ski holiday should be about fun and laughter, and learning to love the slopes. But you do have to be careful of your surroundings and aware of the health and safety aspects. As a high-energy sporting pursuit, skiing has its fair share of accidents and here are a few important tips should you be at the scene of a ski accident.

Nov 30, 2016

A ski holiday should be about fun and laughter, and learning to love the slopes. But you do have to be careful of your surroundings and aware of the health and safety aspects. As a high-energy sporting pursuit, skiing has its fair share of accidents and here are a few important tips should you be at the scene of a ski accident.

Assess Carefully – Look at the entire scene and make sure that you are safe to proceed. There could be danger to you in the form of other skiers, precipices and areas that could pose a problem if not seen.

Check the Person- Carefully check the person’s nose and mouth to see if they are obstructed. Then check their pulse and for signs that they are still breathing. If you have to clear the person’s nose and mouth, be aware of a potential neck injury, and don’t remove the ski helmet if you think that is likely.

Get Help – There are emergency contact numbers on many piste maps, but if you don’t have a phone, organise your group. Someone may have medical or first aid training and can be of immediate benefit. Others can be sent to get help.

Keep Warm – If you can move the casualty out of danger, do so with awareness of their neck, and if on piste warn other skiers. Keep the person warm and as comfortable as possible, and don’t give them anything to eat or drink to avoid hypothermia and allow for anaesthetic if required. Put pressure on any bleeding and keep talking calmly and reassuringly to them.

Staying safe on the slopes is vitally important, knowing what to do in an emergency in a calm fashion even more so. We want you to enjoy your holiday as much as you can, but always be aware of these safety issues, just in case.