Snowsports and Mountain Biking Emergencies

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Chapter 14

• Snowsports and Mountain Biking Emergencies

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Objectives (1 of 2)

• Describe injuries and illnesses caused by
  exposure to certain environmental conditions.
• Describe basic types of snowsports (fixed heel,
  free heel, snowboard, cross country, tubing)
  accidents and common injuries resulting from each
  accident type.

3
Objectives (2 of 2)

• Describe the safety aspects of modern snowsports
  equipment.
• Describe methods of preventing accidents.
• Describe common off-road bicycling injuries.

4
Snowsports Injuries

• Overall injury rates have declined due to
• More experienced participants
• Better instruction
• Better equipment
• Better trail grooming

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Fatalities
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Snowsports Risk Factors

• Higher participant densities
• Time of day
• Lower 1/3 of race course
• Snow conditions

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Alpine Skiing Injuries

• Rates have steadily declined
• Relatively safe when compared with other outdoor
  recreational activities
• Mechanisms
• Rotational
• Nonrotational

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Alpine Skiing Injuries (1 of 4)

• Ankle
• Boot-top fracture
• Spiral fractures
• Knee
• ACL sprains
• MCL sprains
• Phantom foot syndrome

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Alpine Skiing Injuries (2 of 4)

• Thigh, hip, and pelvis
• Contusions
• Lacerations
• Fractures (femur, pelvis)
• Hand
• Skiers thumb

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Alpine Skiing Injuries (3 of 4)

• Upper extremity (nearly 11 of all injuries)
• Dislocations
• Humeral
• Acromioclavicular separations
• Fractures
• Clavicle
• Wrist (silver fork)

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Alpine Skiing Injuries (4 of 4)

• Overuse injuries
• Multiple body parts
• Head and chest
• Collisions with fixed objects
• Leading cause in fatalities

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Snowboarding Injuries

• Overall rate is only slightly higher than skiing
• Risks for beginners is nearly the same as for new
  skiers
• Riders sustain more injuries that require
  immediate medical attention

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Snowboarding Risks

• When compared to skiing
• Higher risk of upper extremity injury
• Twice the risk of fracture
• Males ankle and lower leg injuries
• Females wrist and knee injuries

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Snowboarding MOIs

• MOIs are different from those in skiing
• Generally due to impact
• Historically, less formal instruction
• Less familiarity with mountain environment

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Snowboarding Injury Types (1 of 4)

• Lower extremities
• 60 fewer than skiers
• Air leads to ACL injuries
• Ankle injuries are common
• Snowboarders ankle (talus fracture)

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Snowboarding Injury Types (2 of 4)

• Abdominal, thoracic, and back
• Risk of spinal injuries is the same as for skiers
  
• Injuries to the spleen are more frequent
• Blunt thoracic trauma is 2nd leading cause in
  fatalities

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Snowboarding Injury Types (3 of 4)

• Upper extremity
• More than 50 of all riding injuries
• Wrist
• Young, females, beginners
• Hand, elbow, and shoulder
• Male, intermediate, expert
• FOOSH

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Snowboarding Injury Types (4 of 4)

• Head
• Rare, but leading cause in fatalities
• Occurs usually with a fall backward
• Impact to occiput
• Collisions

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Telemark Injuries

• Third most popular winter sport at ski areas
• Newer high performance equipment has led to
  injuries similar to alpine skiing.
• Release bindings may decrease injury risks.

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Nordic Skiing

• Various types of gear and locales
• Featherweight skis and boots
• Traditional wax or waxless skis and heavier
  leather boots
• Parabolic skis and tall plastic boots

• 7 million nordic skiers in U.S.

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Nordic Skiing Injuries

• Injury rate is small, 0.5/1000 visits
• Common types
• Cold-related, ie, frostbite, hypothermia
• Equal amounts of upper and lower extremity
  injuries caused by falls
• Overuse (Skiers toe)
• Eye (rare)
• Avalanche (rare)

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Snowblade Injuries

• New trend
• Easy to learn
• Non-release bindings
• Common types
• Upper extremity injuries similar to snowboarders
• Boot-top and spiral tib/fib fractures

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Tubing Injuries

• New trend
• No or limited steering
• No braking
• Common types
• Head and spine
• Fractures, isolated and multiple
• Soft tissue
• Injuries result from collisions and rollovers

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Snowmobile Injuries

• Common types
• Lower extremity
• About 50 are fractures
• Spinal injuries
• Head and neck trauma
• Lower back pain
• Overuse injuries (Raynauds syndrome)
• Avalanche

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Snowmobile Risk Factors

• Multiple riders
• Excessive speed
• Alcohol and drug use
• Improper equipment
• Night riding
• Unfamiliar or avalanche terrain
• Jumping

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Mountain Biking

• Make up majority of bikes sold in U.S.
• Many ski areas promote activity.
• IMBA, NORBA, and NSP helped found the National
  Mountain Bike Patrol.
• Offers training in OEC, trail etiquette, and
  environmental issues

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Mountain Biking Injuries (1 of 2)

• 80 of riders will be injured
• MOIs include high speed and steep terrain
• Demographics of riders and injuries
• Males, late teens to late 30s
• Multiple injuries tend to occur.
• 25 require medical care.
• 90 occur off-road.
• Serious head injuries are rare.

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Mountain Biking Injuries (2 of 2)

• Common types
• Abrasions, most frequent
• Contusions
• Lacerations
• Fractures, typically of the clavicle
• Often the injured will self-evacuate

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Injury Prevention (1 of 2)

• Maintain physical conditioning.
• Use and maintain good equipment.
• Use retention devices on the slopes.
• Ski or ride within your ability.
• Attune to your surroundings.
• Avoid intoxication.

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Injury Prevention (2 of 2)

• Maintain adequate nutrition.
• When tired or cold, stop, rest, drink, and eat.
• Dress appropriately.
• Follow your Responsibility Code.
• Carry survival equipment when skiing out of area.
  
• Use high-quality eyewear.
• If you choose to wear a helmet, assure that it
  fits properly and is appropriate for the
  activity.