14,000 People Helped by Swiss Piste Rescue Last Winter
18th December 2024
Last modified on December 21st, 2024
- 80% of accidents involved skiers
- 15% of accidents occurred to snowboarders
- 4% to people while sledging
In 39% of skiing accidents people sustained knee injuries.
In 33% of snowboarding accidents, wrists and forearms were injured.
In every tenth accident the rescue services registered a head injury.
Most people now wear a helmet on the slopes and according to some experts, this reduces the risk of serious head injury by a third.
Over 90% of accidents on snow sports slopes are self-inflicted and the authorities say skiers and snowboarders often overestimate their abilities.
A growing number of injuries are caused by collisions on the slopes.
Verbier Piste Patrol. Image © PlanetSKI
Inadequate or incorrectly maintained equipment can also lead to injuries.
Ski bindings should be adjusted and checked by a specialist before the season, said the Accident Prevention Council.
Skis and snowboards should be checked and maintained regularly.
Related Articles:
- PlanetSKI spends a day with the Verbier piste patrol
- How to stay safe when skiing
- Slight rise in Swiss avalanche fatalities
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