Equipment Became Better in Backcountry Skiing—Did Severity of Injuries Decrease? An Analysis from the Swiss Alps
<i>Background:</i> Large technical developments in avalanche transceivers as well as in ski−shoe-binding units should make backcountry skiing a safer sport and as a consequence, yield to a decrease in the number and severity of mountain emergency events. <i>Methods:</i...
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doaj-53c304eabcdd42eb9ae60563b781b03d2020-11-25T02:16:38ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012020-02-0117390110.3390/ijerph17030901ijerph17030901Equipment Became Better in Backcountry Skiing—Did Severity of Injuries Decrease? An Analysis from the Swiss AlpsBenedikt Gasser0Swiss Registries and Data Linkage - Swiss RDL, University of Bern, 3012 Berne, Switzerland<i>Background:</i> Large technical developments in avalanche transceivers as well as in ski−shoe-binding units should make backcountry skiing a safer sport and as a consequence, yield to a decrease in the number and severity of mountain emergency events. <i>Methods:</i> From 2009−2018, a total of 3044 mountain emergencies (953 females and 2091 males) were identified from the SAC (Swiss Alpine Club) central registry while backcountry skiing. These were classified descriptively by cause, whereby the severity of the mountain emergency was quantified with a NACA-Score (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Score). <i>Results:</i> A total of 1357 falls (44.6%), 558 emergencies caused by avalanches (18.3%), 408 cases of blocking (13.4%), 214 cases of illnesses (7.0%), 202 cases of losing way (6.6%), 138 cases of a crevasse accident (4.5%), and material failure in 30 cases (1%) were registered. For the remaining 137 cases (4.5%), no classification or rare forms were detected. No substantial sex differences were found in severity of injury, however looking at the two endpoints of the observed time frame, a significant increase in NACA-Score from 2009 to 2018 (2.1 ± 1.8 up to 2.6 ± 2.1, <i>p</i> < 0.01) was detected. <i>Conclusions:</i> The increase in the severity of mountain emergencies while backcountry skiing in the last decade might be due to the fact that too many inexperienced absolve backcountry tours. The tendency might be promoted by the improved material in the way that it seems easier to absolve a tour while underestimating potential hazards.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/3/901switzerlandnaca scoreseverity of injurybackcountry skiing |
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DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Benedikt Gasser |
spellingShingle |
Benedikt Gasser Equipment Became Better in Backcountry Skiing—Did Severity of Injuries Decrease? An Analysis from the Swiss Alps International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health switzerland naca score severity of injury backcountry skiing |
author_facet |
Benedikt Gasser |
author_sort |
Benedikt Gasser |
title |
Equipment Became Better in Backcountry Skiing—Did Severity of Injuries Decrease? An Analysis from the Swiss Alps |
title_short |
Equipment Became Better in Backcountry Skiing—Did Severity of Injuries Decrease? An Analysis from the Swiss Alps |
title_full |
Equipment Became Better in Backcountry Skiing—Did Severity of Injuries Decrease? An Analysis from the Swiss Alps |
title_fullStr |
Equipment Became Better in Backcountry Skiing—Did Severity of Injuries Decrease? An Analysis from the Swiss Alps |
title_full_unstemmed |
Equipment Became Better in Backcountry Skiing—Did Severity of Injuries Decrease? An Analysis from the Swiss Alps |
title_sort |
equipment became better in backcountry skiing—did severity of injuries decrease? an analysis from the swiss alps |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2020-02-01 |
description |
<i>Background:</i> Large technical developments in avalanche transceivers as well as in ski−shoe-binding units should make backcountry skiing a safer sport and as a consequence, yield to a decrease in the number and severity of mountain emergency events. <i>Methods:</i> From 2009−2018, a total of 3044 mountain emergencies (953 females and 2091 males) were identified from the SAC (Swiss Alpine Club) central registry while backcountry skiing. These were classified descriptively by cause, whereby the severity of the mountain emergency was quantified with a NACA-Score (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Score). <i>Results:</i> A total of 1357 falls (44.6%), 558 emergencies caused by avalanches (18.3%), 408 cases of blocking (13.4%), 214 cases of illnesses (7.0%), 202 cases of losing way (6.6%), 138 cases of a crevasse accident (4.5%), and material failure in 30 cases (1%) were registered. For the remaining 137 cases (4.5%), no classification or rare forms were detected. No substantial sex differences were found in severity of injury, however looking at the two endpoints of the observed time frame, a significant increase in NACA-Score from 2009 to 2018 (2.1 ± 1.8 up to 2.6 ± 2.1, <i>p</i> < 0.01) was detected. <i>Conclusions:</i> The increase in the severity of mountain emergencies while backcountry skiing in the last decade might be due to the fact that too many inexperienced absolve backcountry tours. The tendency might be promoted by the improved material in the way that it seems easier to absolve a tour while underestimating potential hazards. |
topic |
switzerland naca score severity of injury backcountry skiing |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/3/901 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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