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Snowboarding is more dangerous than skiing
Snowboarders are more than
twice as likely as skiers to sustain
serious injuries, and they also
tend to be injured more often,
according to research published
in the Western Journal of Medicine
(2001;174:128-31).
The research shows that
snowboarders are more than
twice as likely as skiers to sustain
serious fractures, become concussed and lose consciousness,
dislocate their joints, and have
their teeth knocked out.
The most common injuries
tend to be sprains, fractures,
cuts, and bruising. One in five of
all injuries and half of all fractures involve the wrists, as snowboarders overextend their arms
to balance a fall in the absence of ski poles.
AP PHOTO/CAMAY SUNGU |
Originally introduced in the
1920s, snowboarding is now one
of the fastest growing winter
sports in the world. Over 13 million visits were made, by 3.3m
snowboarders, to ski resorts in
the United States last year.
The typical profile of a snowboarder is of a young man, often
with no skiing experience and
no training. But Dr Kathleen
Dunn, author of the research
and director of the Injury Control Center in New York, said,
"The sport is becoming very
mainstream, with a lot of adults
taking it up."
Safety guidelines for snowboarders
- Get formal training in proper snowboarding techniques
- Pick the right time and place to learn (good weather,
uncrowded slope, soft groomed snow)
- Wear protective gear (helmet, goggles, wrist guards)
- Wear insulated, waterproofed, and layered clothing
- Protect exposed skin with sunscreen with high sun protection
factor (SPF)
- Snowboard with a buddy trained in first aid and
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Snowboard on patrolled areas, not on ungroomed trails or in
wooded areas
- Preprogramme your telephone with the ski patrol number
- Be aware of your location at all times to guide rescue efforts if
needed
- Don't use drugs or alcohol when snowboarding
(Western Journal of Medicine 2001;174:128-31)
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The research shows that
snowboarders prefer street
clothes rather than protective skiwear, so they are at greater risk of
hypothermia and sunburn. And
few wear helmets. Head injury is
rare, but the risk is double that of
skiers, while the risk of spinal
injury is four times as high. One
in 10 snowboarders will sustain
permanent neurological damage.
Fast speeds and off piste activity
increase the risk of injuries from rocks and other hard objects,
according to a spokesperson for
the Ski Club of Great Britain.
A recent two year study of
snowboarding during the winter
olympics in the Journal of Trauma
(1999; 46: 1066-9) reported 143
head injuries, of which nine were
serious and three led to permanent damage. None of the snowboarders was wearing a helmet.
Responsibility code
- Always stay in control and be able to stop or avoid other
people or objects
- People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your
responsibility to avoid them
- You must not stop where you obstruct a trail or are not visible
from above
- Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill
and yield to others
- Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment
- Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails
and out of closed areas
- Before using any lift, you must have the ability to load, ride,
and unload safely
(Western Journal of Medicine 2001;174:128-31)
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"The difficulty is getting
manufacturers to make helmets
cool enough for kids to wear. But
we've done it with cycles, so perhaps it will be easier to do this in
snowboarding," Dr Dunn said.
Formal training is vital, says
Dr Dunn, and many ski resorts
now offer snowboarding for
beginners. "The right clothing,
protective gear, and high sun
protection factor should help to
minimise the risk of injury," she
said, "and it is better to keep off
drugs and alcohol while snowboarding."
Useful websites: www.skiclub.co.uk,
www.ski-injury.com
Caroline White London
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