Item: Snow Immersion Suffocation- The Silent Killer at Ski Areas
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Title: Snow Immersion Suffocation- The Silent Killer at Ski Areas
Proceedings: Proceedings, 2012 International Snow Science Workshop, Anchorage, Alaska
Authors:
- Paul Baugher [ Northwest Avalanche Institute ] [ Crystal Mountain Ski Area ]
Date: 2012
Abstract: From 1990/91 to 2011/12, there have been sixty-four Snow Immersion Suffocation (SIS) cases reported at U.S. ski areas. Comparing inherent risks at ski areas during the same period, there have been sixty avalanche fatalities resulting from ticketed skiers leaving the designated ski area boundary (out of bounds) and nine avalanche fatalities that have occurred within ski area boundary (in bounds). The risk to in bounds skiers and snowboarders of snow immersion suffocation is six times greater than the risk of avalanches. With an average of just over four SIS fatalities each ski season in the last ten years and accounting for an average of ten percent of all ski area accidental deaths on an annual basis it has become one of he most significant inherent risks in the sport of alpine skiing and snowboarding. Recent progress has been made in the development of educational awareness and prevention strategies and tools. This risk trend appears to be “under the radar’ of much of the skiing and snowboarding public and even many snow safety professionals. However good progress has been made in the development of educational awareness and prevention tools for both the skiing public and the snow professional. This study was designed to compare the risk trends of in bounds and out of bounds avalanche fatalities with snow immersion events, to analyze the SIS case data from 1990/91 to 2011/12 and correlate this data with a field snow immersion studies conducted earlier. The study concludes with prevention tools and strategies. It is clear that more work remains regarding public education about the SIS risk at U.S. ski areas. The greatest single component of snow immersion risk is that it continues to be substantially underappreciated.
Object ID: issw-2012-220-226.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): unknown
Keywords: snow immersion, suffocation, sis, narsid, ski area, risk management, ski safety, skier education
Page Number(s): 220-226
Subjects: ski areas risk assessment out-of-bounds skiing
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