Winter Sports Safety: How PHI Air Medical provides the highest level of care at the highest elevations.

While winter sports provide excitement, adventure, and thrill, winter sports can also present serious risks, especially when traveling on slopes with rugged terrain and at high speeds. Common sports injuries ranging from sprains and strains to more severe injuries such as spinal and head trauma are serious risks when up on a rural mountain. Let’s explore the potential risks of winter sports, how to stay safe on the slopes, and why advanced medical support like PHI Air Medical is crucial when every second counts in these rural regions.

Critical Injuries In Winter Sports

As the winter approaches and the snow begins to build, winter sports enthusiasts are drawn to the mountains worldwide. While winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding can be exciting, thrill-seeking sports or leisurely family experiences, the toll these sports take on your body can lead to serious injury, requiring immediate emergency medical help. Below are just a few of the many possible injuries to watch out for this winter, when participating in winter sports. With each injury listed, a quick tip will be provided, to ensure you have a safe winter.

Spinal Injuries

Injuries to the back, such as spinal cord injuries and vertebral fractures, are very serious and require immediate medical attention. These injuries can lead to permanent disability such as paralysis, and even minor spinal injuries can have long-lasting health impacts. The necessary services provided through air medical transportation can make a life-changing impact on your future. To avoid serious injury, consider the following safety tips:

• Use proper technique, especially when turning, stopping, and falling.
• Strengthen your core muscles, this can help with balance limiting serious falls.
• Know your limits – avoid terrain and speed outside your skill level.

Head Injuries

When talking about head injuries, the most common is concussions. Although many people recover from concussions, there can be long-term effects such as brain trauma and an increased possibility of being susceptible to additional concussions in the future. For thrill-seekers, the extended risk of a critical head injury is heightened. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) to the skull or brain can be devastating and require quick action. When participating in winter sports, be prepared to make the call for help if a medical emergency arises. Here are some tips to limit the need for life-saving medical attention:

• Wear a helmet to protect your head from falls and collisions, and make sure your helmet fits properly.
• Take lessons as this will help ensure you have a safe and enjoyable time on the mountain.

Fractures and Breaks

Whether it’s your wrist, femur, lower leg, or collarbone, fractures and brakes are common injuries in winter sports like skiing and snowboarding. Depending on the severity, these injuries can require surgery and take a long time to heal. Wrist injuries are common among those who participate in winter sports. Although the snow may look soft, breaking a fall with your hands can lead to major wrist injuries. Here are some techniques to use to limit fractures and breaks:

• Learn how to fall properly.
• Avoid extending your arms to break your fall. Instead relax your wrist and body to avoid impact on your wrist and collarbone.
• Regular exercise can help reduce the impacts of falls and injuries.
• Wear wrist guards. Snowboarders are particularly at risk for wrist fractures. Wearing wrist guards can help absorb the shock of a fall.

Broken limbs when you’re in difficult to access mountainous locations can be a challenge for traditional ground rescue operations, which is where the PHI Air Medical crews are more equipped to drop in and rescue an injured individual. Air ambulance services are sometimes necessary when participating in winter sports.

Strains, Sprains, and Tears

Strains and sprains can be limiting, but they often heal by themselves over time. Although these injuries are not the most critical on the list, it is important to be mindful because these injuries are extremely common. Tears resulting from knee sprains such as an ACL can be devastating. Although tears are not life-threatening, they are very serious, requiring surgery and long recovery, similar to a broken bone. Here are some tips to prevent strains, sprains, and tears, so you can stay safe while enjoying your favorite winter sport:

• Warm up before hitting the slopes. It’s recommended to do some light stretching. Exercise is also a great way to warm up your muscles before participating in winter sports.
• Avoid sudden movements. Fluid movements are necessary to prevent falls and limit the risk of hyperextension in your joints.

Know Your Skill Level When Skiing or Snowboarding

Knowing your skills and limitations is important to remain safe. Protect yourself and others by preparing beforehand. Reviewing the mountain’s different slopes is important to understand where you should challenge yourself and where it’s best to stop. Limit risk and medical emergencies by reviewing the summary of the slope difficulties below.

Beginner: Easy, gentle slopes for beginners. Slopes labeled with a green circle are ideal for first-timers. They have gentle slopes and minimal steep sections, typically few to no obstacles, and are designed to help beginners learn the basics and gain confidence.

Intermediate. Moderate difficulty, for those with some experience. Slopes labeled with a blue square are made for the intermediate levels. The slopes have some steeper sections and have a mix of open trails and rolling terrain. These runs are best for those comfortable with the basics, like turns and stopping. Although these runs are more challenging than the green runs, they are still manageable for most skiers and snowboarders who are progressing.

Expert. Advanced, steep, and often rugged terrain for experts. Slopes labeled with a black diamond are for experienced skiers and snowboarders, these runs offer high difficulty which can result in high risk, those who are not highly experienced should avoid these runs until they are properly prepared to take on the challenge. These slopes are usually narrow and have obstacles such as moguls. Additionally, ungroomed snow and cliffs are possible struggles and risks black-labeled runs present to those who do not have strong control and experience.

Rural Nature of Winter Sports

Winter sports like skiing and snowboarding are linked to rural regions. When on a mountain, access to medical transportation is limited and can be delayed. The unique conditions in these isolated areas, such as the lack of accessibility to the scene of injury and the lack of accessibility to medical facilities, can delay the necessary emergency services needed in a medical crisis. Those who sustain an injury in these rural areas may need to be airlifted via helicopter due to the rural setting. The important services provided by PHI Air Medical can overcome the delays created in these rural areas by rapidly responding and supplying the highest level of care coast-to-coast with air ambulance services.

Whether traveling for a family snow trip or going to the closest ski resort in your area, it is important to be prepared when every second matters! Access to life-saving air medical transportation is crucial in a medical emergency. Know where you are and how you can be found when navigating in these rural regions. Additionally, the out-of-pocket cost of these life-saving flights can be devastating. Below are some actionable tips to protect yourself and your family on and off the slopes.

1. Sharing your location with family and friends through an app that displays your live location can be lifesaving during a medical emergency in a rural area. Keep your cellular device charged and a portable charger accessible alongside emergency contact information, such as an emergency contact card and other important medical information.
2. Pack a first aid kit and consider taking a first aid or CPR class, so that you can help at a moment’s notice while waiting for emergency professionals to arrive. The kit should include essential first-aid items such as bandages, antiseptic wipes, and personal medications you or a family member might need while on the mountain. Due to the rough nature of winter sports, joint supporters, such as a knee brace, can be exponentially helpful.
3. Invest in your safety. Being airlifted can be incredibly expensive and the out-of-pocket cost can be thousands. An air medical membership is much more affordable than paying out-of-pocket. An air ambulance membership protects you and your household while providing financial peace of mind. Right now, you can safeguard your finances through PHI Cares. Through swift response times and financial protection, PHI Air Medical and the PHI Cares membership program work together to save lives and provide peace of mind when every second counts.

Join PHI Cares – An Air Ambulance Membership Program

Consider joining PHI Cares, the air ambulance membership program of PHI Air Medical. For a small, annual fee, PHI Cares protects your entire household from incurring out-of-pocket costs if flown by PHI Air Medical during a medical emergency. Our air ambulance membership program offers peace of mind, knowing that you and your loved ones are covered in critical situations. Whether taking on a black diamond or learning the basics, be safe, create lasting memories, and consider the benefits of the PHI Cares membership for comprehensive emergency medical protection.