SEDL / STP / STP1289-EB / STP18285S

Risk of Traumatic Death During Downhill Skiing Compared with that During Mountaineering

Burtscher, M
Medical doctor/Ph.D., University of Innsbruck and the Austrian Society for Mountain Medicine, Innsbruck,

Nachbauer, W
Medical doctor/Ph.D., University of Innsbruck and the Austrian Society for Mountain Medicine, Innsbruck,

Schröcksnadel, P
Professor and president, Austrian Ski Federation, Innsbruck,

Pages: 7    Published: Jan 1997

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Abstract

To determine the risk of traumatic death associated with various mountain sports and to locate risk groups, we registered the fatalities incurred during skiing and mountaineering in Austria within a seven-year period. From a total of 1833 fatalities, 656 Austrians aged 16 or above were included for risk calculations. Traumatic deaths (TDs, 74%) and sudden deaths (SDs, 24%) represented 98% of all fatalities, whereby the traumatic death proportion was highest in climbers (97.5%). We found that the annual traumatic death rate per 100 000 persons increased from downhill skiing (0.52) to ski touring (1.57) to hiking (2.62) and rock and ice climbing (6.60). Traumatic deaths occurred more frequently with increasing age, and men were clearly more endangered than women. In persons engaging more regularly in mountain sports activities, the traumatic death risk was reduced during downhill skiing and hiking but it was relatively enhanced during climbing and ski touring.