Safety knowledge and risk behaviour of injured and uninjured young skiers and snowboarders.
BACKGROUND
Earlier studies of ski injury indicated that youths were at increased risk of injury, that males were most likely to injure the head or face, and that females were most likely to injure the knee.


OBJECTIVE
To obtain information about safety knowledge and risk behaviour that might contribute to injury among young skiers and snow-boarders.


METHODS
Survey of knowledge and behaviour in injured and noninjured cohorts.


METHODS
Blackcomb Mountain, Whistler, British Columbia.


METHODS
A total of 863 noninjured and 118 injured skiers and snowboarders aged five to 17 years using Blackcomb during 1993/94.


METHODS
Skier Knowledge Inventory Questionnaire.


RESULTS
The injured cohort had less knowledge of the Skiers Responsibility Code. In both groups, almost half had had no lessons, 31% had had bindings adjusted by nonprofessionals and chair lift safety bars were used one ride in four by children age 13 to 17 years. The injuried cohort wore helmets slightly less often. Both groups regularly skied through the trees (60% to 70%), and one-thirds had skied on closed runs. Excessive speed was identified as the major cause of injury. Skiers did not recognize jumping as contributing to injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Lack of knowledge of safety rules was more prevalent among the injured cohort. Skiing without due care - including skiing through tress, skiing on closed runs, skiing with excessive speed and jumping, particularly by snowboarders - were identified as potential causes of injury.
Macnab
A J
AJ
Division of Critical Care, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Cadman
R E
RE
Greenlaw
J V
JV
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