Snow sports accidents: playing safe in the snow

Every ski and snowboard season sees thousands of New Zealanders planning a trip to the mountain slopes and the snow. To maximise your fun and improve your chances of returning home happy, healthy and in one piece, you should know the risks of popular snow sports, the most common accidents and how to minimise them. 

Snow sports have a whole set of specific hazards. According to the New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) 13,591 snow-related injuries were reported in the 2007/2008 year. Most snow sports injuries are the result of a fall, generally following a loss of control. Collisions with other people account for about 10% of accidents. Ski-lifts are involved in about 5% of accidents and equipment failure (eg, ski bindings coming undone at the wrong time) is the culprit in another 5%.

Preventing injuries on the snow

Follow a few simple guidelines and many accidents can be prevented.

• Know your limits on the snow and work within them.
• Some exercises that strengthen relevant muscle groups can help prevent skiing or snowboarding injury. More information on ski fitness exercises. 
• Use the slopes that match your ability. Stick to the beginner’s slope if you are new to snowsports.
• No matter what your skill level, ski or snowboard lessons will improve your skills, maximise your safety and the fun you have on the slopes.
• Use the correct equipment and check it regularly.
• Make sure your equipment is in good working order and meets current safety guidelines. Get your bindings checked, to make sure they release at the right time.
• Helmets designed for skiing and snowboarding are recommended, especially if you are just getting to grips with the sport.
• Wrist guards can protect you from wrist injury, particularly common in snowboarders.
• Use your equipment correctly – eg, hold ski poles with the straps in your grip, not draped over your hand (which can cause thumb injury if you fall).

Know the Snow Responsibility Code

The Snow Responsibility Code is internationally recognised. Stick to it and you will keep yourself and everyone else on the slopes safer.

• Always stay in control. 
• People ahead of you (down the slope) have the right of way. 
• Stop in a safe place for you and others – eg, off to the side, somewhere visible. 
• Whenever starting downhill or merging, look uphill and give way. 
• Use devices to help prevent runaway equipment. Don’t leave equipment or rubbish on the mountain. 
• Stay at the scene of any accident that you witness or are involved in.
• Observe signs and warnings, and keep off closed trails. 
• Know how to use the lifts safely. 
• Treat everyone else on the mountain with respect.

Snow-related injuries and how to deal with them

Skiing is the biggest contributor to snow sport injuries. The ACC figures for 2007/8 attribute 61% of snow sport injuries to skiing.  In skiing, the main injury sites are the:

• knee 
• shoulder 
• lower leg 
• upper and lower arm 
• hand/wrist.

Snowboarding accidents are on the rise. Snowboarding injuries centre mainly around the upper limbs, the wrist or the shoulders, due to the fact the snowboarder has both feet strapped to the board and stretches out his arm when he falls.

Head injury

Statistics show that the worst head injuries generally come from high-speed, head-on collisions. However, even a mild knock to the head can cause serious injury or even death, as in the case of actress Natasha Richardson in March 2009. It is important to get any head injury investigated promptly by a doctor, and see a doctor immediately if you experience headache, blurred vision, nausea, drowsiness or feel unwell in any way.

Knee injury

Knee injuries are common in skiing. Most frequently affected is the medial collateral ligament. Found on the inside of the knee, this ligament stabilises the joint, preventing it from bending inwards. Injury tends to occur when the skier is in the snowplough position or when a strain is applied to the knee, forcing it inwards.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a ligament that crosses inside the knee joint providing stability. If it is injured, there will be immediate swelling and pain. ACL injuries commonly occur at the same time as injuries to the medial ligament and the meniscus (shock absorbers) of the knee.

Knee injuries should be treated initially with rest, ice and elevation. Later on, physiotherapy may be helpful to strengthen the muscles stabilising the knee. In some cases, surgery is recommended to repair ACL ruptures.

ACL rupture animation

Shoulder injury

Shoulder injuries are more common in snowboarders and are caused by a fall onto the shoulder or outstretched arm. 

• Dislocations are quite common and must be put back into place as soon as possible. Meanwhile the shoulder should be stabilised and protected from further injury.
• Collar bone (or clavicle) breaks are also common, but in most cases heal themselves, the arm needing only to be rested in a sling.
• The AC (acromioclavicular) joint is the joint between the shoulder blade and the collar bone. It is held together by a number of ligaments at the end of the collar bone. These ligaments can be sprained or completely rupture. As with broken collar bones, most AC joint injuries heal with rest in a sling.

Thumb injury

Skier’s thumb happens when a skier falls holding his ski-pole, pulling back the thumb and stretching or tearing the ligaments. It is important to see a doctor to get the injury assessed. In some cases, a splint or cast may be needed, followed by physiotherapy to mobilise and strengthen the joint. 

Wrist injury

As with injuries to the shoulder, wrist injuries generally occur when a person (usually a snowboarder) puts out his hand as he falls. A wrist injury needs to be assessed by a doctor. It may require a splint, cast or surgery.

First aid for sprains or strains

RICE helps to minimise swelling:

• Rest the injured joint or limb.
• Ice: Apply ice, but not directly onto the skin, as this can cause frostbite.
• Compression: wrap the injury site securely (being careful not to cut off the blood supply) with anything available (spare clothing for example).
• Elevate if possible (eg, if the injured part is an extremity and it does not hurt the person to do so), to reduce blood flow to the injured area.

Being fit, well prepared and properly equipped will prevent many of these injuries, so do your homework and have fun on the slopes!

Further information

For more information about keeping safe in the snow, visit the ACC’s website www.snowsmart.co.nz

Original material provided by everybody and kindly reviewed by Dr Cheryl Tallon, June 2009.