Skiing is one of the most risky sports and yet the widest range of ages and skills choose to take their holiday in the alpine resorts, from children to mature adults populate the slopes from off-piste to nursery slopes. A skiing holiday abroad is one of the most exhilarating and popular things to do. Thousands of people have a wonderful experience but not everyone. Skiing accidents do not only happen to novice skiers, in fact, there can be an element of over confidence in the person who is extremely familiar with the slopes.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) points out that many people who head for the mountains are not in peak condition and fail to consider that their lack of fitness may have a significant bearing on their safety on the slopes. If it has been a little while since the last time you have skied, here are some of the precautions that should be taken and may have been forgotten, for example:

  • When you get to the slopes ensure that you are ready to ski by adequately warming up and cooling down
  • Do not ski alone
  • Make sure you have all the necessary safety equipment and it is actually worn
  • Be sure that your equipment fits well
  • Know about the bindings that are best for you
  • Be fully aware of your capabilities; do not tackle a slope that is beyond you, even if you once could handle it. It may not be a welcome revelation that you should not be hurtling down the mountain at speed but it is certainly preferable to a catastrophic accident
  • Absolutely do not ski off-piste unless you are extremely experienced
  • Do not distract yourself with your iPod, you need to have all your wits about you - listening and looking for risks.
  • Make sure you are on the right slope which is well designed for the activity you are planning
  • If you want the services of an instructor engage an experienced instructor who has a good reputation
  • Avoid skiing when the light is failing, it may not be you that doesn't see so well, it could be the person who careers into you
  • It may be obvious but look out for ice, stones and trees

Approximately 10,000 skiers and snowboarders come to grief every year, due to collisions, equipment failure, poorly maintained ski lifts etc. If the accident results in hospitalisation for broken bones or head injuries clearly there will be an impact. However, many people brush off a lesser accident as they don't want to spoil their holiday even refusing to be checked over at hospital. It is easy to think that you have got away without too much harm but there can be long term repercussions which are not recognised at the time of the accident; it is better to be safe than sorry and have your injury properly investigated in case there is a problem that will come back to haunt you. If, in the future there are unexpected consequences arising from an accident, the need for reduced working hours or special equipment, it may be far too late to obtain financial compensation to help you adjust.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.