 Poster: A snowHead
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The Main Hospital in Bludenz in Vorarlberg is currently very busy.
Due to the crowds on the slopes and the not great snow conditions.
Up to 170 patients are treated daily. Especially the icy artificial snow slopes appear to be a major culprit.
The range of injuries is wide: head injuries, femoral neck fractures and, particularly often, cruciate ligament ruptures. Senior physician Philipp Bichay knows the reasons - and is not sparing with clear words.
"I wouldn't go skiing at all in this weather"
The artificial snow is hard, icy and requires a lot of strength, explains Bichay. However, this is often lacking - especially among tourists and beginners. The result: overtaxed muscles, lack of body tension - and an increased risk of injury.
Holiday guests in particular are drawn to the slopes despite difficult conditions. Many of them end up directly in the outpatient clinic afterwards. The locals, on the other hand, often remain cautious, according to Bichhay: they wait for the real snow.
The hospital currently receives between 120 and 170 people a day.
Those are high numbers. 
It is difficult to compare this with previous years, because figures on skiing accidents are usually calculated over longer periods and per thousand ski days. Still, these figures are enough reason for a warning.
Crowds and difficult conditions
The is a clear cause for the high numbers of victims :
The snow conditions are difficult. Skiing on icy slopes requires more strength, concentration and technique. Holiday skiers, who are on the slopes less often, are therefore more likely to fall or collide.
Be careful, Most leisure Skiers are NOT Fit .
In these conditions, everything is more difficult. Good reactions, Good Turns, braking in time and keeping your speed under control takes more energy.
Moreover, the slopes are often narrower, so there are more people per Sq/mtr . This increases the risk of collisions.
Caution and restraint are therefore essential.
Tips for safer skiing in difficult conditions:
Make sure you are rested.(good sleep)
Eat and drink enough, and avoid alcohol.
Stop in time if you are tired.
Ski slower than usual.
Always keep your speed under control.
Leave more room for other skiers.
Make sure your equipment is in top condition.
Take lessons: you can never learn enough to ski more safely.
Do you have no energy for a day? If not then do something else, such as walking, visiting a city or a nice SPA.
Safety comes first, especially on icy slopes and when it is busy. Stay alert, adjust your speed, and enjoy your day on the mountain.
Winter sports only with preparation
For all those who still want to ski,
the experienced trauma surgeon has an urgent piece of advice: Only those who are well trained and warmed up should venture onto the slopes in these conditions.
Because the combination of hard surface and lack of fitness quickly becomes a dangerous trap
Source
https://www.vol.at/bis-zu-170-verletzte-skifahrer-taeglich/9886553
Interesting to know what the Figures are for The Triol & Salzburg !!!
Could be a Change to Insurance Policies coming !!!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Crikey, the insurance point is interesting, but not sure how you would manage it, but policies will be getting more expensive I guess.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Christmas comes but once a year along with a sensible post from @stanton, ! Completely agree with this. Was in the Arlberg the weekend before last and the combination of crowds, restricted skiing and testing conditions was really not good. I dont plan on going back ( though I generally avoid skiing over New Year far too many people) until there has been more snow, the risk of an accident whether from a collision or a mistake seems simply too high.
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| munich_irish wrote: |
| Christmas comes but once a year along with a sensible post from @stanton, ! Completely agree with this. Was in the Arlberg the weekend before last and the combination of crowds, restricted skiing and testing conditions was really not good. I dont plan on going back ( though I generally avoid skiing over New Year far too many people) until there has been more snow, the risk of an accident whether from a collision or a mistake seems simply too high. |
Also agree.
IIRC, last year also saw very high numbers of injuries for similar reasons (locally).
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Can only agree. A man was killed on Fellhorn yesterday (my local hill). A simple fall on a blue piste, the only piste that is open on the Fellhorn side right now... I saw the state of the car park and turned around.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Here in Flachau Mrs R&W has been pottering around while I'm working and counting Helicopters. It does seem to be worse this year than previous years. Here, they seem to be mostly morning MEDEVACs.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Thu 25-12-25 18:00; edited 1 time in total
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@RedandWhiteFlachau, which is why we stay well away over Xmas and new year
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@holidayloverxx, I think I've told you this before, but the stats say that most accidents happen on Blue pistes between 10.00 and 12.00. Claire's observations are backing that up.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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First missed days skiing due to injury yesterday. Skiing down a misty soft mogulled lower slope covered in beginners. Picking my way carefully over relaxed and caught outside edge and face planted at pretty low speed. Normally a cause of great hilarity but I landed on my ski pole and pretty sure have cracked a rib!
We had noticed many blood wagons and had all said to ourselves don’t lose concentration. Easy to do- as above simple falls often a function of conditions with unpredictable outcomes as per poor guy/girl in Fellhorn.
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@RedandWhiteFlachau, its still the onc place where I've been taken out more than anywhere else regardless of piste or time.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| stanton wrote: |
Could be a Change to Insurance Policies coming !!!! |
Why would there be any change to insurance policies?
Whenever you get conditions like the current ones in the last couple of weeks of December, you are going to get more injuries than usual.
And what rational changes could there be anyhow, that would be relevant to the current situation?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Alcohol gets rid of the sore muscles & aches.
Why else pour stroh on your alpine musli.
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| alex_heney wrote: |
| stanton wrote: |
Could be a Change to Insurance Policies coming !!!! |
Why would there be any change to insurance policies?
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Should insurance cover someone pissed & not being in control on the slope? Would probably need to breathalyse the person there & then to void their insurance though.
Insurance would save thousands - both winter & summer…. Hmmmm, but then it may encourage more people to not bother with insurance at all - if it is going to be voided.
One for the bean counters I guess.
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You know it makes sense.
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I suspect different resorts have issues at different times in the day?
Ischgl has to be the home run post 3:30
Arabba there are usually ambulances lurking at the lifts later in the day.
Not convinced by @holidayloverxx pre lunch stats I would think post lunch more of an issue with folk having had a drink or two?
We avoid peak times when we can.
Last thing I want is a collision with an out of control kid.
I'm 100kg+ I don't want that on my consciences my fault or not.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Garfield, they aren't my stats, they are RWF's But he's on the the ground and no reason to doubt him. My own observation in Flachau is that blood wagons are more apparent in the morning. It usually much quieter after lunch
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Poster: A snowHead
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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| @Garfield, they aren't my stats, they are RWF's But he's on the the ground and no reason to doubt him. My own observation in Flachau is that blood wagons are more apparent in the morning. It usually much quieter after lunch |
No worry's
I think New Year week must be about peek?
Snow cover a bit thin and lots of folk about?
I'm probably in the older ski bracket now but would like to get a few more years in.
I certainly ski more defensibly than I used to.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Garfield, The stats came from a French survey of over 70 resorts in 5 years. It is logical that more skiers on the slopes (Blue runs/morning ski schools) will produce a higher accident number.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Holidays Lack of snow in the low/Mid altitude resorts and many irresponsible Skiers
Its not a surprise seeing the queues in Austria and France
In Avoriaz there where a couple of times (or more) when i said "nope thats it for today, i dont want a Fly with the heli"
And generally i am a boarder going relative Medium to show ans carefully
However i was afraid some times
Other thinking i paid and i will do as much as possible.
And finally they gonna lost the whole season
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