As the winter sports season gets underway in Europe and North America, it's a good time to be reminded of the elements of risk in snow sports that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce.
Every year in the United States alone, an average of 39 people lose their lives on the slopes as a result of accident in skiing and snowboarding, according to the most recent report from the National Ski Areas Association. The U.S. 10-year average for catastrophic injuries — including forms of paralysis, broken necks or broken backs, and life-altering severe head injuries — is 50 injuries per season.
Excess speed, loss of control and collisions with stationary objects, such as a tree or lift tower, are the most common factors associated with skiing and snowboarding fatalities, research from the National Safety Council shows.
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Jayleen R. Heft
Jayleen Heft is the digital content editor for PropertyCasualty360.com. Contact her at [email protected].
